Helen Marie Emma Sexton

Helen Marie Emma Sexton, 91, of Shelbyville passed away Thursday, April 16, 2020, at Ashford Place Health Campus in Shelbyville. She was born January 3, 1929, in Meeker County, Minnesota to the late Anton and Emma (Nelson) Draxton. On February 11, 1956, she married her husband of 64 years, Robert “Gene” Sexton, and he survives. They were married at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Shelbyville and have lived in Shelbyville since then. In addition to Gene, Helen is survived by her daughters, Jeanne Lockridge and husband, Kurt, of Shelbyville, Teresa Drake and husband, David, and Julie Drake and husband, Darrell, both of Cambridge City, Toni Everhart and husband, Gary, of Waldron, Jan Kehrt and husband, Brian, of New Palestine, and Tina Clapp and husband, Carl, of Shelbyville; grandchildren, Tyler Lockridge and wife, Mandy, Luke Lockridge and wife, Susan, Aaron Drake and wife, Ashley, Ryan Drake and wife, Anna, Sarah Holt and husband, Jake, Adrienne Fisher and husband, Erik, Megan Smith and husband, Kevin, Lauren Kehrt, Lindsey Nelsen and husband, Brandon, Natalie Kehrt, Natasha Waite and husband, Chris, Nathan Clapp, and Morgan Martin and husband, Aaron; 12 great-grandchildren; and a special caregiver, Annie. She was also preceded in death by her brothers, Erle Draxton and Merrill Draxton; and sisters, Nellie Kruger, Clara Wilmot and Annette Liedman. Helen graduated in 1946 from Hutchinson High School and St. Barnabas Hospital School of Nursing in Minneapolis in 1949. She served in the U.S. Navy Nurse Corps. Helen was employed at Hutchinson Community Hospital, Hutchinson Public Schools, Glencoe Municipal Hospital, W.S. Major Hospital, Inlow Clinic, Pittsburgh Plate Glass, Cossairt’s Floral and the office of Dr. E.T. and L.P. Banguis and Dr. T.O. Pouw. Helen was a past member of the First Christian Church and a member of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. She was also a member of St. Barnabas Alumnae Association, Nu Beta Chapter of Kappa Kappa Sigma Sorority, past member of Indiana State Nurses’ Association and American Nurses’ Association, past Guardian of Bethel No. 37 of Jobs Daughters, Naamah Chapter of Eastern Star, and past member of the Board of Directors of W. S. Major Hospital. Private graveside services will be at Lewis Creek Baptist Cemetery in Shelbyville. A Celebration of Helen’s Life will be held at a later date. Services have been entrusted to Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, 819 S. Harrison St. in Shelbyville. Memorial contributions may be made to the MHP Foundation, 2325 Intelliplex Drive, Suite 201, Shelbyville, Indiana 46176. Online condolences may be shared with Helen’s family at www.freemanfamilyfuneralhomes.com.