Helen Ray Gustafson

Helen Ray (Newstrom) Gustafson, age 89, of Elgin, Texas, fell asleep in Jesus’s arms and entered Eternal Glory with God the Holy Trinity on January 8, 2023. She was born on January 16, 1933, in Taylor, Texas. She was baptized into God’s Kingdom on May 23, 1937, at Methodist Episcopal Church, Austin, Texas. She was confirmed in May 1948, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Taylor, Texas. Her confirmation verse was Romans 5:8.

She graduated from Taylor High School with the Class of 1951. She worked at Taylor Bedding Mfg. Co. in Taylor, Texas, Southwestern Camera Co. in Houston, Texas, Nash Phillips Copus in Austin, Texas, and the Elgin Bank of Texas in Elgin, Texas. She was joined in Holy Matrimony to Ervin Edgar “Curly” Gustafson on April 22, 1956, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Lund, Texas.

Helen Ray was preceded in death by her parents, David G. and Milda A. Newstrom, her brother, Eden Newstrom, her sister Alice Newstrom Kovar, and the love of her life, Ervin “Curly” Gustafson, who went before her into eternal life on March 3, 1994.

She is survived by her caregivers and good friends, Larry and Nancy Axelson and Paul and Sandra Mogonye. She is also survived by cousins, Betty Creecy, Beverly Snowden, Dale Kessel, Glen and Mickey Dale Newstrom, Eileen Newstrom, and Bradley and Tina Newstrom, and nieces, Joyce Elaine Riddles, Wanda Kaye Remmert, and Karen Loew.

A Visitation will be held on Friday, January 13, 2023, from 9:00 to 10:30 AM at Grace Lutheran Church, 801 W 11 ^th Street, Elgin, Texas, followed by a Celebration of Life at 10:30 AM with Reverend Carl Roth officiating. Interment will follow at Elgin Cemetery, 901 W 2 ^nd Street, Elgin, Texas. A reception will follow interment at the church.

Helen Ray expressed her wish that memorials be given in her name to Grace Lutheran Church, 801 W 11 ^th Street, Elgin, Texas 78621, the SPJST Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 100, Temple, Texas 76503, or to the charity of one’s choice.

The family of Helen Ray would like to thank the Taylor SPJST Assisted Living and Skilled Nursing Home for all they did for her during her stay with them. We sincerely appreciate it.

Pallbearers:  Kyle Mogonye, Darren Mogonye, Bradley Newstrom, Dale Kessel, Darron Snowden, and Brian Snowden.

Honorary Pallbearers:  Larry Axelson, Paul Mogonye, Ervin Becker, Gilbert Kubicek, Mike Mogonye, Chuck Fromme, Larry Wayne Becker, and Carl Newstrom (deceased).