Born to Jesse Albert Heltsley and Effie Pearl Westmoreland. Around 1930 (maybe) in Williamson County. His brothers and sisters were Wilma, Catherine, Dorothy, Jack, Dale, Carl and Sue. Wilma was the oldest and Harry was the oldest son. I'm not sure how he fits in with the older girls though. He later served in the Army during the Korean War. His dad Jesse Albert passed away shortly after he joined the service. The following is a transcript of Jesse Albert's obituary (misspellings are left intact):
JESSE ALBERT HELSTSLEY
MARION DAILY REPUBLICAN
JESSE ALBERT HELSTSLEY DIED TUESDAY January 10,1950 Jesse Albert
Heltsley, Route 2, Marion, passed away Tuesdaaay at 12:05 am at his home. He was 47
years, 6 mnths, and 23 days of age. Mr. Heltsley was the son of Ezra and
Levina GUILL HELTSLEY and was born June 17, 1902 in Marion. He was married
to Pearl WESTMORELAND on October 26, 1921 in Marion and she survives. He is
also survived by four daughters; Mrs. Wilam MOTSINGER, Miss Dorothy HELTSLEY of
Marion, Mrs. Katheryne FORD of Creal Springs and Sue Ann at home; four sons
Harry Lee of the U.S. Army and Jackie,Dale and Carl at home. There are
three grandchildren. Mr. Heltsley also leaves two sisters, Mrs Jewell PARTON and
Mrs. Anna HODGES of Marion and three brothers; James of Marion and Frank and
Eugene of Delavan. Mr. Heltsley was an auto mechanic and had previously been a
coal miner. He had served as a private in the Army, and was a member of the
American Legion. The body will be in state at the Frick Funeral Home until the
hour of the funeral. Funeral arrangements are incomplete pending word from the son
in the service.
Wilma's husband Kenneth Motsinger was also in Korea and might have served with Harry but I'm not sure about that. After he left the Army, Harry became a truck driver and for many years drove for North American Van Lines. I can remember traveling to various relatives houses and anytime we spotted a North American truck we would wave and say "Hi!" to uncle Harry. It never was him but we waved anyway. I'm told that in later years he owned a rig or two of his own.
He had 2 sons, Kenneth and Kelly. They were both around 10 years older than
me so I never knew them very well, but we would see each other at family reunions. Kenneth
committed suicide in the early 1980's. After that I don't think
I saw Kelly anymore either. He moved on and didn't come to reunions with Harry and his
wife Marion.
Update: Kenny's death came in December 1986. He has three children, in order of age are: Jesse, Carrie and Valerie. Carrie now has a baby boy, Isaac, born in 2001. Though he was born after Harry's death, he carries the middle name of Lee. Just asHarry, Kelley and Kenny all do.
Harry had a step daughter, Marilyn, who gave her daughters Robin and Michelle the middle name of Lee. Nita, another step daughter of Harry, used the middlename of Lee for daughters Wendy and Teri. Hey, who would have thought that when Grandma Pearl gave Harry that name, it would be so popular.
I really don't remember Marion. After talking with my mom I have some vague recollections of her being a big woman who was a very neat and clean housekeepper. I vaguely remember thinking that Harry and Marion were like Jack Sprat and his wife. No disrespect to anyone, she was a larger person and Harry was always thin and lean. Besides, I was little and Fairy Tales were my thing at that time in life.
Harry divorced Marion and later was married to Mary (Kilpatrick) Heltsley. He was married to her until his passing of a stroke in 2002, around Thanksgiving.
Update: Before his stroke, Harry had a long battle with lung cancer. Also his first wife, Marion has passed on in October 2005.
I confirmed with my mom who tells me that Kelly Heltsley has moved to
Mexico, where he lives with his wife and son Salvador Harry Heltsley. I'm told he is
retired, but at this time, he seems a little young for that, but it isn't impossible.
Update: My mom has told me Kelly used to do some kind of migrant work, I'm not sure how accurate that statement is. He did do work for quite some time in Mexico teaching the English language to Mexican children. With his wife Luisa, he has a daughter and son. I'm still unsure of the daughter's name, his son is actually Elsalvador Harry Heltsley.
Kenneth's wife is Elizabeth and has a daughter, Carrie and a son Jesse. They live somewhere around Wisconsin Rapids.
And in the immortal words of Forrest Gump, "that's all I have to say about that."
If any information given here is not correct, please email me with corrections or updates.