HELEN STODDARD, 84, of Overland Park, Kansas, passed away Wednesday morning, January 19, 2011 at the Overland Park Regional Medical Center.

Born December 7, 1926 in Argonia, Kansas, she was the daughter of Ralph O. and Dona G. (Gordon) Mahannah. She was raised and educated in Kansas, and graduated from Valley Center High School. As a young adult, Helen worked at Dillons Grocery Store.

She was united in marriage to Harold Myrtle in August of 1946. To this union, two children were born. The couple divorced in December of 1956.

Helen married Lawrence G. Stoddard in January of 1971 in Miami, Oklahoma, and the couple resided in Arkansas City, El Dorado, Colorado and Texas before moving to Cambridge in 1991. Helen worked for the Royal Gorge Bridge Company in Colorado. Mr. Stoddard preceded her in death on November 16, 1995. She lived in Lenexa, Kansas for several years before just recently moving to Overland Park.

Helen was a member of the Cambridge Baptist Church. She enjoyed writing stories and poems, reading and traveling.

Her family includes:
Her son: Rocky Myrtle and wife, Myra of Bluffton, Indiana;
Her daughter: Cathy Gooch and husband, Paul D. of Alto, New Mexico;
Her brother: Ralph Mahannah of Cambridge, Kansas;
Her sisters: Juana Flynn of Dexter, Kansas; and Louetta Weaver of Leslie, Arkansas;
Her 5 grandchildren: Misty, Darren, Brian, Cindy and Dirk; and
Her 13 great grandchildren.

In addition to her parents and husband, Helen was preceded in death by her brother, Maurice Mahannah.

Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, January 22, 2011 at 10:00 A.M. at Miles Funeral Service. Interment will follow at the Argonia Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home on Friday evening from 4 to 8 P.M.