Obituary of Helen E. Carter Bahl

Helen E. (McMicken) Carter Bahl, 97, of Athens, PA, passed away with her beloved family by her side on Thursday, September 28, 2017 at the Sayre Personal Care Center.

She was born on March 10, 1920 in Meshoppen, PA, the daughter of the late Roy and Florence (Koup) McMicken.

Helen was a loving wife and mother who adored spending time with family and friends. She met Harland Carter in 1938, and  after a brief courtship, they married and spent 50 years together prior to his passing. She was a 4-H Leader and very active in her childrens’ activities. Throughout her whole life, Helen was a Methodist, attending Retta United Methodist Church, Otego United Methodist Church, and Athens United Methodist Church. She always was a part of the different church activities and a member of the choir. Helen was a talented seamstress, sewing clothing for her family, wedding attire and church organizations. Through her talents as a seamstress, Helen met her second husband, Francis Bahl and they spent 23 happy years together.

Helen recently made a choice to make the Sayre Personal Care Center her home. While there, she endeared herself to many employees and residents. She especially enjoyed spending time with her special friend Bob. The family wishes to thank the staff for the wonderful care and friendship given to their loved one during her stay.

She is predeceased by her first husband Harland E. Carter in 1988, second husband Francis X. Bahl in 2014, sons-in-law, Walter Crawford, and Stephen Zang, brothers Howard, Willard, Wesley, and Robert McMicken, mother-in-law and father-in-law, Claude and Ethel Carter, sisters-in-law Pauline (Eugene) Erb, Charlotte (Neil) Westcott, Marion Seely Hollett (her  husbands Orlo Seely and Max Hollett) and Madelyn (Tom) Toole.                                                                                

Helen is survived by her children, Nancy and Paul Saxton of Grand Rapids, MI, Phyllis and Roy Darling of Mehoopany, PA, Calvin and Robin Carter of Bonita Springs, FL, Barbara and Roger Fike of Athens, PA, Jeannette Zang of Gibsonia, PA, stepdaughter, Mary Alice Eppers of Sayre, PA, 19 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren, 8 great-great-grandchildren, 2 great-great-grandchildren that she was looking forward to meeting, sister-in-law Juanita McMicken of Athens, PA, Jennie McMicken of Laceyville, PA, and Alice McMicken of Meshoppen, PA and many nieces and nephews.

Friends and family may call on Friday, October 6, 2017 from 4pm - 8pm at the Jay E. Lowery Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc., 225 South Main Street, Athens, PA.  Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, October 7, 2017 at 11am at the funeral home with the Rev. Helen Learn officiating.

Burial will be in Retta Cemetery, Montrose, PA.

Memorial donations may be made in Helen’s memory to: Retta United Methodist Church, 651 Retta Road, Montrose, PA 18801, Athens United Methodist Church, 118 S Main St, Athens, PA 18810, or Sayre Personal Care Center, Activities Fund, 1001 N. Elmer Ave., Sayre, PA 18840.