Helen Gibbard Hall, longtime resident of McKinney, and eminent historian, passed away at her home on the morning of March 30, 2008. Helen was born in Indian Territory, May 29, 1909. She graduated from Northeastern College in Durant, Oklahoma, with a degree in History, at a time when women weren’t expected to go to college, much less graduate. She met her future husband and soul-mate, Roy Hall (future mayor of McKinney), shortly thereafter, when he was touring Oklahoma battle grounds, researching a book on the area’s history. He told her at the time that he was going to marry her someday. They married in 1936 and stayed in love until his demise in 1970. Helen and Roy moved, soon after their marriage, to the Rio Grande Valley of Texas, and then back to Mckinney, where Roy had grown up. They had five children, Sydney Ann, Roy, Nancy, David and Stan. Helen soon became as interested in McKinney and Collin County history as her husband and ended up writing several books about McKinney’s early days. Helen was a founding member of The Historical Guild and was for many years associated with the Old Post Office Museum. She fielded questions constantly from people across the country who wanted to know about their ancestors. She is well-remembered among her lifelong friends as a compassionate and intelligent woman who was, in many ways, ahead of her time. It is to her credit that the main library in McKinney is to be dedicated and named after her and her late husband, Roy, on April 15. Those of us who loved and valued her and will miss her are sorry that she didn’t live to see this ceremony, but she will be there in spirit. She is preceded by her husband Roy and her daughter Nancy and her sons, Roy and Stan. They all loved her and would be so proud of her. Her surviving children, Sydney Ann and David, pay homage to her memory every day and know that we will never again get a handwritten letter, as she was the last to send us one, in perfect penmanship. Visitation will be at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home on Thursday, April 3, from 6 to 8 p.m. Interment will be conducted privately.