Our ornery, fun-loving mother, grandmother, cousin and friend, Della Margaret (Helms) Teel, 84, passed away unexpectedly on April 10, 2021.
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Della was born in Daviess County, MO, the daughter of Harold and Flora (Stitt) Helms on Jan. 1, 1937. She was named after her maternal grandmother, Della (Gardner) Stitt and paternal grandmother, Margaret Jackson. She grew up in Pattonsburg and attended school at Pattonsburg R-2 School. Her mother owned the popular “Flora’s Beauty Shop” on Main Street and her father, Harold, owned the “Squeeze-In Diner” next door.
Della married early in life to Von Hager in 1954. They later divorced. In 1976 she married Dave Teel and they later divorced.
Della was a member of the Beta Sigma Phi Sorority of Pattonsburg and served as den mother in Cub Scout Pack #159 also of Pattonsburg.
Della valued hard work. She was employed at the Pattonsburg Cap Factory for 11 years before starting a 31-year career at GM Motor Company in Fairfax, KS, where she made many friends and stories to tell before retiring at the age of 70.
She loved laughing, driving fast, and being stubborn. She enjoyed throwing large holiday dinners for her family, watching westerns, and listening to Elvis. In her younger years, she enjoyed water skiing and dancing to live music, but she continued to enjoy dining out, over-sized Christmas trees, and being around good people. She was feisty and opinionated, and she is going to be fiercely missed.
She was preceded in death by her parents; an infant brother, and her grand-dog, Buddy.
Della is survived by her children, Cyndi (Ron) Hulet, Pattonsburg, Randy (Ruth) Hager, Chillicothe, Jackie O’Reilly, Kansas City, Daven Teel (Cole Offutt), Pattonsburg, and bonus daughter, Darbie Valenti Huff, Savannah; eight grandchildren, Amber Hulet, Cameron, Aaron “Willie” (LeAnna) Hulet, Kearney, Ryan Hager, Overland Park, KS, Nick (Becky) Hager, Kansas City, Alex (Margaret) Hager, Ballwin, Courtney O’Reilly (Josh Kateman) Kansas City, Brittany O’Reilly, Kansas City, Whitney O’Reilly (Michael Syaks), CA and grand pup, Blue; seven great-grandchildren, Taylor (Bret) Hangley, Henry Hulet, Shelby Hulet, Audrey Hager, Austin Hager, Frankie Hager, Calloway Hager, Bryce O’Reilly and one great-great granddaughter, Ava Hangley.
Funeral Services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 17 at the United Methodist Church, Pattonsburg, under the direction of Roberson Funeral Home, Pattonsburg. Burial will follow in Civil Bend Christian Cemetery, Pattonsburg. The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. Friday at Roberson Funeral Home, Pattonsburg, MO. Memorials may be made to the Civil Bend Christian Cemetery and/or Pattonsburg United Methodist Church in care of Roberson Funeral Home, P.O. Box 152, Pattonsburg, MO 64670. Online condolences may be left at www.robersonfuneralhome.com