Muskogee resident Helen Marie James passed away Saturday, Dec. 6, 2008 in Muskogee at the age of 79.

Helen Marie James was born June 5, 1929 to William Isaac and Olga Marie (Partanon) Korpela in Shawnee. Her valiant struggle with cancer amazed all who cherished her life. She was baptized on June 22, 1929 with a Finnish Lutheran church heritage. On Feb. 12, 1942, she publicly acknowledged the gifts that God gave her in Holy Baptism through the rite of Confirmation.

When Helen was 18 months old her mother died and her father married a wonderful woman, Helmi Marie Lampi. Helen was a graduate of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. She was a piano teacher for 56 years in Shawnee, Sioux Falls, SD and Muskogee, Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Sioux Falls, SD; and First Lutheran Church, Muskogee.

On April 19, 1952, she was united in marriage to Robert M. James, in Shawnee, and they had two sons. She was a member of the Musical Arts Society, National Music Teachers Association, National Guild of Piano Teacher, and the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, and after a long-term active membership at First Lutheran in Muskogee, in November, 2004, she and her husband became active members of Immanuel Lutheran in Broken Arrow.

She is survived by her loving husband Robert James of the home; sons, Alan William James of Tulsa and Kenneth Robert James of Porter, Okla; cousins, Roy Zigrang of San Diego, Calif., June Zigrang of Anchorage, Alaska, Floyd Dorhoffer of Gridley, Calif., and Barbara Carlson of Moose Lake, Minn., also, her aunt Junde Lampi of Yucaipa, Calif. grandnieces Mickie Smith of Okla. and Rebecca Caricao, of McCloud, Okla. Additionally, special friends Myrtle and Bill Weaver of Shawnee; Nancy Shelton, Muskogee, Okla.; Russell & Martha Reck, Tulsa, Okla; and Dr. Robert and Norma Kramer, Tulsa, Okla.

Services for Helen Marie James will be held 9:00 a.m. Tuesday, December 9th, 2008, at First Lutheran Church in Muskogee. Funeral service arrangements are under the direction of Foster-Petering Funeral Home in Muskogee, Okla.

Memorials may be made to Kelly B. Todd Cerebral Palsy and Neuro-Muscular Center 111 N. 36th St, Muskogee, OK 74401, The Lutheran Women’s Missionary League c/o First Lutheran Church, 428 E. Broadway, Muskogee, OK 74403 or, a charity of your choice.

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