Helen Belle Derr, 90, of Sweet Home, died Saturday at Bridge Creek Memory Care Community.

Helen was born in Madison Wisconsin to Lloyd and Adah (Chandler) Schindler. Helen lived in Appleton, Wisconsin, Etiwanda, California and came to Oregon in 1970; settling in Sweet Home in 1981.

She worked for the phone company in the 1940s. She was a member of the United Methodist Church in Sweet Home. She was one of the Senior Singers, a member of the Bridge Club, Garden Club, and the Church Choir. She played Bunko and Pinochle. Helen also was a volunteer at Lebanon Community Hospital for 20 years.

Helen had many friends. Her favorite saying was “The more the merrier.” She had an adventurous spirit, even into her 80s she did activities such as hot air ballooning. Her family was the most important thing to her. She was a loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She was known as “Gram” or “Grammy.”

Helen is survived by her children, Tim Walker of Westminster, South Carolina and Sharon Brooks of Sweet Home; brothers, C. Robert (Bob) Schindler of Appleton, Wisconsin and Jack Schindler of Wild Rose, Wisconsin; grandchildren, Mark Bottoroff, Brett Walker, Matthew Bottoroff, Heather Fennell, Jason Walker, Ken Brooks, and Tabetha Brooks; twelve great-grandchildren; and the many other children she was “grandmother” to.

She was preceded in death by husband, Jim Walker in 1981; husband Noel Derr; son-in-law, Terry Brooks in 2006; and sister-in-law, Rita Schindler.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm Thursday, July 12, at United Methodist Church in Sweet Home. Memorial contributions can be made to Lebanon Community Hospital or Alzheimer’s Association. Sweet Home Funeral Chapel will be handling the arrangements.