Helen Anita (Stewart) Sorrells

Helen Anita Sorrells passed away peacefully at home January 20, 2022. Visitation will be held at noon on Monday, January 24, at Crestview Church of Christ, 7129 Delhi Road, Waco, followed by 1:00 Services and 2:30 burial at Oakwood Cemetery.

Helen was born to Washington Brooke Stewart and Rasco Ferguson Stewart in San Antonio, TX on October 2, 1924. She grew up in San Antonio with her 2 brothers, Brooke and Fred, and  younger sister, Junice.

Upon graduating high school, she joined the US Coast Guard SPARS in support of her 2 military brothers. In the service, she traveled to Palm Beach, FL, Long Beach, NY, and Catalina Island, CA. It was there that she met Ronald Reagan, later known as our 40th President, in the Victory Celebration at the LA Coliseum. She enrolled at Abilene Christian College where she met and fell in love with her future husband, Jimmy, of Waco. When he graduated ACU early, she moved home to San Antonio where she graduated from Trinity University with a degree in Education. They married in 1949 and made Waco their home.

As newlyweds, Helen worked for the V.A., and she and Jimmy attended worship at Herring Avenue Church of Christ. There they met several lifelong friends & started a ‘church plant’ on the outskirts of town, now known as Crestview Church of Christ.

Supporting her husband’s work at CTIW, Helen stayed home to raise their 3 children, Mark, Sharon and Steve. They raised their 3 children to attend church regularly and dedicate their lives to Christ. Helen & Jimmy loved hosting dozens of outings and events held on what they called "the farm," including campouts, hayrides, cookouts, and ball games.

Though she was not that fond of traveling, Helen loved learning new things and exploring new places. She & Jimmy traveled across the United States & Canada, chartered a sailboat where they island-hopped the Caribbean, and loved Hawaii.  Her varied interests included Tai Chi, canoeing, sailing, art and mastering calligraphy. She also was a member of the DAR, Daughters of the American Revolution, and enjoyed doing genealogy with her husband, to whom she was married 63 years.

Helen is survived by many family members, including her son, James Mark Sorrells, daughter, Sharon Sorrells, and Steve and wife, Becky Sorrells. Her grandchildren are James Travis and wife, Ashley Pfennig, Christian and wife, Sadie Pfennig, Jack Sorrells & fiancée, Hannah Ging, Emily and husband, Rhett Richie, and Allie Sorrells. Helen had 4 great-grandchildren - Tanner Bradley Pfennig, Colin James Pfennig, James Rudolph Pfennig, and AnnaBeth Pfennig. Nieces and nephews include Fred Stewart Jr., Gary Stewart, Tim Valenta, Kenneth Valenta, Glenda Pettit, Wanda Nelson, Carol Wheeler, and Marsha Lee.

The family wishes to thank Dr. Van Wehmeyer, Terri Rowell, Compassus Hospice & Coleman Care who so tenderly loved Mom in these past few weeks. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages gifts to the ACU Marriage and Family Therapy Endowed Scholarship. Gifts can be mailed to Gift Records, ACU Box 29132, Abilene, TX 79699-9132, or you can give online at Give | Abilene Christian University select "other designation, and enter Marriage and Family Therapy Endowed Scholarship.