Helen Reid Douglas

Helen Reid Jinks Douglas passed away peacefully on Sept. 6, 2024 in Mansfield, Texas. She was 96 years old. 

Helen was born in the small village of East Wemyss in the Royal Kingdom of Fife in Scotland on Dec. 18, 1927 to Cyril and Helen “Nell” Reid Jinks. Her young life in Scotland during World War II proved to be both full of love and unique challenges. Helen lived with her parents and two older sisters, Barbara and Gladys, in the Central Hotel and pub which was owned and run by the family. She graduated from Kirkcaldy High School and went on to earn some college credits.

Helen’s world would change forever at age 16 when she with her Mum and Auntie Grace took a train to Edinburgh for a USO dance. Like a scene made for a movie, Helen met a handsome American fly boy from Texas, Leslie Harold Douglas, and it was love at first sight for both of them! They toured the city together that weekend, and on a subsequent visit, Leslie proposed. Helen’s father said no to marriage until the war was over and Helen was older. Helen determined that she would wait however long it might take to become Mrs. Douglas. She loved him that much.

In February 1947, Helen got her way. She left her family behind and boarded the Queen Elizabeth in Southampton to cross the Atlantic Ocean at the age of 19. She disembarked in New York City and flew to Dallas, Texas, to travel by car to her new home. She arrived in a foreign environment ready to meet her in-laws only known to her through letters and marry a man she had not seen for two years. She was a brave young woman.

Her determination paid off, and on Feb. 28, 1947, Helen and Leslie were married in the Methodist Church in the small west Texas town of Santa Anna. Leslie’s six sisters took Helen under their wing and provided guidance as she acclimated to life in Texas. They shared recipes, laughs, and love. There were many other gracious ladies – neighbors and friends – who also loved Helen and mentored her in a similar fashion. The hot Texas summers and strange new foods were hard to get used to. This foundation of love and community fostered a solid partnership. Helen and Leslie celebrated over 76 years of marriage from 1947 until Leslie passed away in Sept. 2023.

As a young mother, Helen’s three children were the center of her world. When Leslie’s career moved the family from Abilene to Fort Worth, Helen helped Beverly, Sheila, and Ken settle in a new home and establish roots in another community.

Helen loved to sing and dance; she had a real passion for Scottish Country Dancing. She and Leslie also spent precious time traveling together. They took several memorable trips to Europe, and they spent many summers at their holiday caravan in Kinghorn, Scotland. They also enjoyed time spent at Ken and Celia’s “Schoolhouse” and Butch and Sheila’s “Ranch” in Proffitt, Texas.

Helen was an active member of the Eastern Star, Methodist Women’s Groups, Daughters of Caledonia, Nations Club, and Bible Study Fellowship. Helen was a talented artist, seamstress, quilter, and knitter. She was also a Scottish Country Dance instructor. Most of all, Helen enjoyed being a wife, mom, grandmother, and great grandmother.

Helen was preceded in death by her parents, Cyril and Helen Jinks, her beloved husband Leslie Harold Douglas, sisters Barbara Cairns and her husband Johnnie and Gladys Sansbury and her husband Ron, and son-in-law Eusebio Saldana. 

She is survived by her daughter Beverly Douglas Saldana, daughter Sheila Douglas Lawhon and her husband Butch Lawhon, son Kenneth Douglas and his wife Celia Hellman Douglas; grandchildren Heather Keating and her husband Karl, Reid Douglas and his wife Beth, Mark Douglas and his wife Caitlyn, Douglas Lawhon and his wife Lindsay, and Tyler Lawhon; great grandchildren Hannah, Joey, Katie, Emily, Sadie, Emory, Bentley, Turner, Merrick, Jordan, Judd, and Archer.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider a donation to the charity of your choice in Helen’s honor.