Helen Juanita Gandee

May 8, 1929 - July 18, 2016

Helen Juanita Gandee, age 87, a resident of Columbia, passed away Monday evening, July 18, 2016 surrounded by her loving family.

A funeral service will be held on Thursday at 10AM at Heritage Funeral Home with Bro. William Owens officiating. Burial follow at Polk Memorial Gardens with Pastor Rick Points officiating the graveside service. The family will receive friends for visitation on Wednesday from 4-8PM at the funeral home. Heritage Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

A native of Maury County, Helen was born on May 8, 1929 and was the daughter of the late Robert “Bob” Beard and the late Lelia Ann Shepard Beard. She was a member of Mt. Pleasant First Freewill Baptist Church and was a devoted Christian. Helen worked in the lumber industry for many years before becoming the secretary and bookkeeper for Gray’s Wrecker Service where she worked thirty years until she retired. One of her greatest personal achievements was being a sixty year survivor of breast cancer. Above all, Helen loved her family and will be deeply missed by who knew and loved her.

She is survived by her children: Clyde (Louise) Quirk of Theta, Gary (Patty) Gandee of Columbia, Steve (Betty) Gandee of Columbia, Don (Sandra) Gandee of Columbia, Mark Gandee of Columbia, Georgann (Terry) McGill of Columbia; brother: Luther (Nancy) Beard of Holt, FL; twenty-two grandchildren; forty great grandchildren; and three great- great grandchildren.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband: John Billy Quirk; second husband: George Gandee; brother: Raleigh Thomas Beard; and grandson: Adam Quirk.

Helen’s grandsons will serve as pallbearers. The members of Mt. Pleasant First Freewill Baptist Church will serve as honorary pallbearers.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to the staff of Hospice Compassus and to Dr. Messenger and Dr. Gardner for their care and compassion during this difficult time.