Helen A. Ozier

Helen A. Ozier, 97, longtime Parsons resident, passed away at 7:00 a.m., Thursday, February 15, 2024, at the Parsons Presbyterian Manor.

Helen Ann Nugent was born in Kansas City, Kansas on May 5, 1926.  Her parents were Michael and Helen Nugent. She grew up with her sisters Mary Hortense, and Patricia and a brother, John.  She graduated with a degree in fine arts from St. Teresa's Academy in 1950.  She began working as a window dresser at J.C. Penney's in Kansas City where she met Hugh D. Ozier, Jr.  They were married in 1953 in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, and moved to Parsons in 1954, where they had lived since.  They had been married for 69 years when Hugh died in 2022.

Hugh and Helen raised nine children.

Survivors include:

Becky Schulte and her husband, Dan, of Lawrence, Kansas

Chrissy Kutz and her husband, Jim, of Parsons, Kansas

William Ozier and his wife, Brenda, of Parsons, Kansas

Jane Burzinski and her husband, Bernard, of Shawnee, Kansas

John Ozier and his wife, Mandy, of Paola, Kansas

Paul Ozier and his wife, Sandy, of Parkville, Missouri

Robert Ozier of Lawrence, Kansas

Thomas Ozier and his wife, Jennifer, of Baldwin City, Kansas

James Ozier and his wife, Denise, of Altamont, Kansas

22 grandchildren

16 great-grandchildren with another on the way.

Helen was an artist, art teacher and avid reader and believed in the importance of education and art education especially.  She enjoyed doing art with her children and later grandchildren and great-grandchildren around the large dining room table.  She exhibited her own work at the annual Parsons Art Fair and made sure that her children entered their art as well.

She had strong convictions regarding politics and religion and was a staunch Democrat.  She loved her Irish ancestry and history and was well known for her brownies and strawberry jelly.  Her musical tastes were eclectic from opera to Bruce Springsteen.  She also enjoyed gardening and watching General Hospital and old movies.

Helen established the Picture Person Program in Parsons in 1975 after attending a workshop at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, Mo.  She believed that it was important to introduce children to art at an early age.  The Program began at St. Patrick Catholic School and spread to the public schools with the help of other volunteers.  She became involved with the Parsons Art and Humanities Council when it was organized in 1993 and helped with the effort to save the Carnegie Library.

Helen and Hugh loved gathering their large family together for birthdays and holidays especially St. Patrick's Day and Halloween.  She will always be missed and loved.

The rosary will be prayed at 10:00 a.m., March 16, 2024, at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons.  The family will receive friends after the rosary.  There will be a graveside service at noon on March 16, 2024, at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Parsons.

Memorials are suggested to the Carnegie Arts Center or the American Cancer Society.  These may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS 67357.