Helen Klinell (Wells) Hey Proctor passed away peacefully May 13, 2025. Klinell was the daughter of John Kline and Helen Elizabeth Wells. Klinell was born Aug. 8, 1934 in Neodasha. Klinell married French Hey on Nov. 30, 1951. To this union, the happy couple had two daughters, Deborah (Debby) and Angela (Angie).
While the couple was married for 59 years, they lived in several different states. They finally retired in the couple’s hometown of Coffeyville. Both French and Klinell were actively involved in The First United Methodist Church, Coffeyville Community College and various community organizations. French passed away in October 2010 from cancer.
Klinell met George Proctor from Goddard and married him on Sept. 17, 2011. She moved to Goddard and immediately became active in The Nazarene Church, Wichita, UMW and PEO, a chapter out of Wichita. As health issues arose, they became actively involved at The Goddard Church several blocks from their home. Klinell was a church leader and mentor, leading several Bible studies. On one occasion, she was even asked to give a sermon at the church. Klinell was a perfectionist, so when asked to give any presentation to any organization or even present the sermon, she did so with extreme study and prayer, knowing her Lord would guide her steps. George passed away in July 2023. They were married for 11 years. It was then she decided to move to Oklahoma to be closer to her family.
Klinell was gifted with many talents; singing, sewing, quilting, crocheting, knitting, cooking, baking, painting ….the list can go on and on. She was always working on a project either for her family or a friend, aside from being involved in her community activities. It was not uncommon for her to bake brownies and then French and Klinell would take them to the police department or fire department to thank them for their service to the community. 
When Debby was getting married; she decided she would sew not only Debby’s satin wedding dress but make the maid of honor’s dress plus two additional bridesmaid dresses. Klinell also was an avid reader and loved it. It was not uncommon for her to check out four to five books from the local library to read; every two weeks she would exchange those for another four to five books. If one took her to the library, she would giggle and say, “Look at all these books! Oh how I love reading – it’s like opening gifts up on Christmas Day!” 
Among other things, it was not uncommon for Klinell to keep all her friends and family up to date on yearly happenings in her annual Christmas letter. Her address book was filled to the brim with family and friends from all over the United States. Exactly the day after Thanksgiving, Klinell would start working on her annual Christmas letter. She looked forward to having 200-and-some letters go out by Dec. 1. After her 90th birthday, her list dwindled down to only 125! 
In 1968, Klinell attended the Billy Graham Crusade in Kansas City. It was there that she accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior. As a child, Klinell grew up in church and Sunday school. And as a mother of two, it was of most importance for her to attend regularly and take her family there, too. It was there at the Billy Graham Crusade that she became aware of more to have a personal relationship with Jesus and it grew. She loved the Lord with her whole being; and she wanted everyone she loved or were friends with or even a first introduction the opportunity to accept Christ as their Lord, too. That’s why her Christmas letter was so important to her, as she would always end it with a witness. And her family is sure that when she said goodbye to us and entered Heaven …. she was greeted with, “Well done my faithful servant, well done.”
Helen Klinell Hey Proctor was predeceased by her parents, John and Helen Wells; her first husband of 59 years, French Hey; her second husband of 11 years, George Proctor; her first daughter, Deborah (Debby) Hey Black; and her grandson, Stefan Ulsaker.
Klinell leaves behind her daughter, Angela (Angie) and her husband, Scott Ulsaker of El Reno, Okla; her son-in-law, Brad Black of Lynn Haven, Fla.; six grandchildren, Danielle (Cory) Moss, Seth Ulsaker, Reagan (Dustin) Mashaney, Brandon Black, Adam (Kelly) Black, and Daniel Black; 11 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; plus one sister, Roberta Harrold of Coffeyville; one niece, Jonna (Doug) Lay; nephews, Scott (JoAnna) Soles and Tobin Soles; and a host of cousins and friends.
A memorial service was held at The Goddard Church on May 23 by her stepchildren and sister. A private burial for family members will be held in August for those who couldn’t attend her memorial in May.