TALLULAH, La. — Funeral services for Helen Leoty, age 88, of Tallulah, will be 2:30 p.m. Sunday, March 8, 2015, at First United Methodist Church of Tallulah with the Rev. Johnny Wilkins officiating. A private burial service will follow for the family at Memorial Park Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 1:30 p.m. at the church until the time of the service.

Helen was born Nov. 8, 1926, in Pollock, La., and passed away March 4, 2015, at the Olive Branch Senior Care Center in Tallulah.

Helen met her husband, Tommy Leoty Sr., while attending Louisiana Tech University. After graduation they made their home in Tallulah, and she helped her husband start and run a successful insurance business in Tallulah for 30 years.

In 1985, she opened The Word Works, a religious gift shop specializing in the scriptures. In her spare time, she enjoyed working in her yard, writing poems and songs, and taking care of her pets. She served as one of the first council members for the Village of Richmond, La., and was always helping those less fortunate. She loved her family and enjoyed taking trips with her children and grandchildren.

Mrs. Leoty was preceded in death by her husband, Tommy Leoty Sr.; a daughter, Linda Leoty Lebowitz; her parents, Ted and Blanche Bartlett of Glenmora, La.; her sister, June Hall; and her brother, Kenneth Bartlett and his wife Rose.

Survivors include her son and his wife, Tommy and Margaret Leoty of Tallulah; grandson and his wife Trey and Jennifer Leoty of Monroe, La; granddaughter, Elizabeth Leoty Craddock and her husband Frank of Washington D.C.; brother, Clyde Bartlett and his wife Marie of Glenmora, La., four great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.

Memorials can be made to the First United Methodist Church of Tallulah, 300 South Cedar St.. Tallulah, La., 71282 or to St. Jude Children’s Research hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, Tn., 38105.

We would like to thank Dr. Pops Neumann and all the staff at The Olive Branch for all the care they gave to us.