Helen Florence McDuffee

Helen Florence Shuffle-Barger McDuffee, 83, of Mitchell, IN, formerly of Pope County, IL, passed away July 2, 2018. She was born on June 14, 1935.

Graveside services will be held at 9:30 am on Friday, July 6, 2018 in the Metropolis Memorial Gardens. There will be no visitation. Friends and family are asked to meet at the cemetery.

Helen was always there to support her family with help and encouragement. She truly loved her flowers and could never wait for spring to plant her “annuals”. Any flower would do and she had an amazing green thumb and could nurture anything back to life. Her favorite color was purple, but she really liked pink and blue just as much. She didn’t want anyone to ever think she didn’t like something that was given to her. She kept everything she was ever given because, “It was too nice to use.” And “After all it was a gift from a loved one.”. She loved to laugh and tease with anyone and loved her “baby” dogs more than anything. She had a beautiful voice and loved to sing. She sang in a gospel group and many old country love songs or gospel songs could move her to tears. She could laugh at silly things yet cry at a drop of a hat.

She rarely used any “four letter words” and tried to ignore any family member that (by accident) used any. She truly enjoyed spending time with grandchildren. Cooking and sharing a big meal for family was only one of her many gifts to her family besides constant support and words of encouragement. We have lost a gentle, sensitive, sweet soul but are so grateful for having her loved through the years.

She is survived by one son, James Gill of Chattanooga, TN; one daughter, Carol Gill Roop and husband Claude E. Roop of Mitchell, IN; three grandsons, Michael Gill and James Gill, Jr. of Chattanooga, TN, Corey Lee Cunningham of Los Angeles, CA; several grandchildren and great grandchildren; one brother, Larry Cossey of Golconda, one sister, Shirley Goba of North Carolina; and her much loved sister-in-law, Jean Elam of Peoria, IL.

She was preceded in death by her mother and father, Alma Gladys Elam and Frank Isaac Shuffle Barger; her much loved grandparents, Charles Arzo Elam and Samantha Myrtle Moyers; one daughter-in-law, Jerri Lou Sumnlers.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Aikins-Farmer-Loftus-McManus Funeral Home in Metropolis.

Condolences may be left online at www.aikinsfarmer-millerfh.com.

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