Helen Kelley Hale

Helen Kelley Hale, 95, of Oil City, passed away at 6:50 A.M. on Monday July 10, 2023 at UPMC Hamot in Erie after a brief illness.

Born in Oil City on April 30, 1928, she was the daughter of the late Eugene and Viola Strong Kelly.

She was a 1946 graduate of Oil City High School.

Helen was a well known actress and director in the Oil City, Franklin and Erie area. She appeared in and directed over 60 plays. She was especially proud of her performances at the Erie Playhouse in “ On Golden Pond” and “Hello Dolly.” Her last show at the Barrow Civic Theatre was “The Lion in Winter” which she performed in at the age on 80.

She was a member of the Belle Lettres Club in Oil City where she regularly played bridge. Helen served on the board of directors for the OC Library and Community Playhouse for many years. Helen was one of the founders of Theatre Now, a dinner theatre formerly at Cross Creek Resort.

Helen loved to travel and she was able to travel the world with her sister, Nancy Simmons and her friend Shirley Eckman.

Helen was an avid reader, and kept her mind active by doing the New York Times crossword puzzles daily.

She worked a number of years as the manager of the former Joy Manufacturing guest house. Helen helped welcome Joy executives from around the world to Franklin.

Helen married William “Sam” Hale in 1948 and he preceded her in death in 1984.

Surviving are three children, Mark Hale and his wife Rita of Franklin, Holly Eversole and her husband Andy of Atlanta and David R. Hale of Of Oil City; a sister, Nancy Simmons of Las Vegas; five grandchildren, Megan Huynh and husband Jimy of Baltimore, MD, Andrew Hale and his wife Dani of Austin, TX, Seth Adams of Atlanta, GA, Hannah Hale of Danville and Emma Hale of Tampa, FL; six great-grandchildren, Cameron and Dylan Hale of Austin, TX, Helena Huynh of Baltimore, MD and Hudson, Reece and Russell Adams of Atlanta, GA.

A special thanks to Jenny Hale for the many times she came to assist Helen with anything that was needed.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, brother Richard and bother-in-law, Andre Simmons.

There will be no visitation.

A memorial service will held at a later date.

Funeral arrangements entrusted to Huff-Guthrie Funeral Home & Cremation Services Inc., 312 West Park St., Franklin.

Memorial donations may be made to the Barrow Civic Theatre 1223 Liberty St. Franklin, PA 16323 or the Oil City Public Library, 2 Central Ave. Oil City, PA 16301.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.HuffGuthrie.com.