Mary Helen True

Mary Helen True passed away on Sunday, February 3rd, in Highlands Ranch, CO, with family by her side. A memorial service will be held in her honor February 23 at 2:00 p.m. at The Horan & McConaty Family Chapel, 5303 East County Line Road, Centennial, Colorado 80122. A reception will immediately follow the service, also at the funeral home.

She was born Mary Helen Sisson, on December 24, 1936, in Waterloo, Iowa, to Dr. Harold and Helen (Boeddeker) Sisson. In early childhood, Mary Helen discovered a love of music and a natural talent for playing the piano. She graduated from St. Mary's Catholic High School with top honors and was an accomplished organist for the Catholic church. Mary Helen furthered her studies in music at Iowa State Teachers College (now the University of Northern Iowa) where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in 1959.

Mary Helen married Stephen F. True, a U.S Air Force pilot, on June 20, 1959. After several years stationed abroad, the couple and their four children moved to Vance Air Force Base in 1966.

In 1975, she earned a Masters in Education from Phillips University where she taught music appreciation and theory. With the help of others at the university, Mary Helen was instrumental in re-establishing the Enid-Phillips Symphony Orchestra. She was a featured performer with the symphony in 1988, 1995 and again in 1999.

Mary Helen served as a chaplain at St. Mary's Hospital from 1991-1993. In 2002, the Trues retired to Roxborough Park, Colorado.

For more than two decades, Mary Helen volunteered as a judge for the Enid Tri-State Music Festival. She also shared her time and musical talents by regularly performing short programs for all the residents of Greenbriar Village.

In addition to being a gifted classical pianist, Mary Helen won awards for her sewing skills. She enjoyed French hand-sewing, needlepoint, quilting and restoring antiques dolls. Mary Helen travelled extensively and spoke both German and Russian. She and her husband hiked the Swiss Alps annually for a 12 year period and later became members of the Roxborough Hiking Club.

Mary Helen was a member of P.E.O., Chapter DO, in Enid, Oklahoma, and later joined Chapter E in Denver. She was a certified member of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution and was a registered member of The Iowa Society of Mayflower Descendants.

Mrs. True was preceded in death by her parents and her son, Rev. Father David H. True. She is survived by her husband, Stephen True of Highlands Ranch, CO, and her three daughters; Kathryn Allen and husband, Rick Allen, Denver, CO; Beth True of Littleton, CO; Deborah Cromwell and husband, Justin Cromwell, Enid, OK. She has five grandsons: Jeremy True, Hahira, GA; William Allen, Chicago, IL; Jordan Cromwell, Wichita, KS; Louis Allen, Boulder, CO; Stephen Cromwell, Norman, OK. Mary is also survived by two sisters and one brother.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages memorials be made in her name to the Enid Symphony Orchestra or the Alzheimer's Foundation.

Memorial Service: February 23, 2019 2:00 pm

Horan & McConaty - South Metro/Centennial
5303 E County Line Rd
Centennial, CO 80122

Reception: February 23, 2019 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm

Horan & McConaty - South Metro/Centennial
5303 E County Line Rd
Centennial, CO 80122