Helen Tait

Nella Helen Steele Tait, age 92, was born in Wharton Creek, Arkansas and died at her farm in Wharton Creek on April 29, 2024, with her family by her side. Helen was the middle child of five children born to Samuel Webster Steele and Pearl Bolinger Steele. Helen maintained she had unique strengths due to growing up on the family farm with her four brothers: Dwight, Duane, Arthur and Leon Steele. Helen attended a one-room school through 8 th grade (Upper Wharton) and graduated from Huntsville High School in 1947 at the age of 16. After getting a two-year teaching degree at Arkansas Tech in Russellville, she returned at the age of 18 to Upper Wharton School to teach for one year to save enough money to finish college. Helen then attended the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in education. While at U of A, she met her husband, George Robert Tait, Jr. Helen was voted engineering queen, St. Patricia, in the School of Engineering the year she graduated. Helen and George were married for 60 years, and had three children, two sons and a daughter: Stacy, Layne and Alison. When her children were small, Helen taught kindergarten and worked as a substitute teacher. She returned to college in her late 30’s and obtained a PhD in Counseling Psychology from the University of Missouri, Kansas City. The family then moved to Los Altos, CA where Helen lived for 46 years and was a member of Foothills Congregational Church. Helen started a private practice, Counseling Psychologists, Inc in Cupertino, CA. She greatly enjoyed her work as a psychologist, helping many people in their mental health journey. Helen retired at the age of 85. Helen and George always maintained that having a good education would lead to happiness and satisfaction in life, and paid for their children to attend college through graduate professional degrees. Helen was proud of coming from a humble and wholesome family farm in Huntsville. In 2019, she restored the farmstead and home she grew up in for future generations to enjoy the beauty of Wharton Creek. Helen and George loved their extended family, and built the Steele Cemetery on their farmland to provide a beautiful setting for loved ones. Helen returned to live in Arkansas at the age of 90. In her later years, she established the Steele Tait Family Foundation to help provide assistance, education and mental health care to women and children in Northwest Arkansas. More recently, the foundation has supported the work of the Children’s Safety Center of Washington County. Helen was preceded in death by her husband, George; her parents, Sam and Pearl Steele, and three brothers, John Dwight Steele, Frank Duane Steele, and Austin Leon Steele. Helen leaves behind her three children: Stacy Tait (Lesa), Layne Tait, and Alison Tait (Marty Witucki). Helen is survived by her treasured grandchildren: Amber Tyndal, Justin Tait, Heather Tait, Warren Tait, Sean Tait, Kelly Witucki and Sam Witucki, and step-grandchild Sara Greene (Todd). She has one great-grandchild, Madeleine Koulavong and four step great-grandchildren, Emma, Brian, Harrison and Edward Greene. She is also survived by her brother, Samuel Arthur Steele (Lou) and sisters-in-law Donna Steele and Janie Steele. In addition, she is survived by her nieces and nephews: Patsy Scott, Linda McChristian, Robin Thomas, Rocky Steele, Ginger Staff, Doug Steele and Haley Steele. Burial will be at Steele Cemetery in Huntsville, AR under the direction of Brashears Funeral Home on May 2nd at 2 pm. The family will host a celebration of life service for family and friends at the Pavilion at Steele Cemetery on Saturday, May 18 th at 11 am. To leave a tribute online, please visit: brashearsfuneralhome.net The family requests in lieu of flowers that donations be made to the Children’s Safety Center of Washington County, 3242 Gene George Boulevard, Springdale, AR, 72762.

Tributes

Helen Tait

July 26, 1931 - April 29, 2024