Obituary for Helen Warren

Helen Maxine Wood Warren, a long time resident of Ponca City died June 11, 2014, at Shawn Manor Nursing home in Ponca City. She was 87 years old.

A memorial service will be held Thursday, June 19 at 1:30 p.m. at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) with the Rev. E. Roberta Shaffer officiating. Arrangements under the direction of Trout Funeral Home and Crematorium.

Maxine was born Jan. 14, 1927 in Ponca City, the daughter of Helen Huffer and William Roy Wood. She married Guy Warren in June 1949 and the couple made their home in Ponca City. They had a daughter, Alison Warren who resides in Ponca City.

Maxine earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting and printmaking from Oklahoma State University. Maxine spent her life learning about art, taking classes at Oklahoma’s Quartz Mountain, Penland in North Carolina, and Arrowmont in Tennessee, just to name a few. Santa Fe was a favorite place she liked to go to learn and create, often working in local printmaking studios with master printmakers. About her art she said, “I hope my work speaks to the swiftness of our lives, the blur of a memory, our perceptions of barriers and openings: tradition and change.” About her use of color Maxine commented, “I have a keen interest in the transparency of color and light, and use thin veils and washes of brilliant color to speak to my reverence for light as a spiritual and healing energy in life…a kind of shaman’s light dance.” She felt a kindred spirit to writer T.S. Elliot using many of his words to name her prints and paintings. Maxine has shown art across the country in many galleries. Her daughter, Alison, recently shared many of her prints with the community.

Maxine was a talented, progressive and passionate art teacher. She taught at McKinley Elementary School, Trout Elementary and Ponca City High School. She had a great impact on her students while teaching at the High School and inspired more than a few to become artists and teachers themselves. She retired in 1987, but continued over the years to have relationships with many of her former students. Maxine loved dogs. Her dog “Blackie” was very important to her. She would take in strays when needed. While residing at Shawn Manor, animal visits were always a highlight of her day. Maxine was a very progressive thinker and concerned member of the community. She was Art Consultant for the Standing Bear Statue. She had a love for trees and many times would try to save them. Maxine was preceded in death by her parents and the love of her life, Guy.

Contributions may be made in memory to the Ponca City Art Center, 819 East Central, Ponca City, OK 74601 and First Christian Church, 210 North Fifth Street, Ponca City, OK 74601.

Source: Trout Funeral Home