Helen Elia Ayers passed peacefully to her Heavenly Home on August 7, 2015. Services will be at 11 a.m., Wednesday, August 12, 2015 in the chapel of Downs Funeral Home with Bro. Rocky Burrow officiating. A visitation will be held from 10-11 a.m., preceding the service. Interment will be held in Algoma Cemetery North. Helen was born July 7, 1918 in Marshall, to James Martin and Carrie Anders Elia. Helen was a graduate of Marshall High School and attended the College of Marshall (ETBU). Helen married the love of her life, James Ross Ayers, Sr. on February 26, 1939 at Second Baptist Church. She loved to tell the story that they were married at 7am and the church was full. Ross preceded her in death on July 15, 2000 after 61 years of marriage. Helen was a lifelong member of Second Baptist Church and the seniors group at her church, Triple E. Her church family meant the world to her. She was not going to miss church if she could help it. Her Christian faith and her walk with the Lord were an important part of her life. She was committed to living her life so others could see Jesus in her. She was a member of the Order of Eastern Star Marshall Chapter 356, the Red Hat Society of Marshall, Harrison County Hospital Association Extra Steps Senior Program and Friends of the T& P Railway Museum. One can see just how much she enjoyed life. Helen worked at the Willie Long Dress Shop for 5 years, then went to the Harrison County Tax Office for 17 years before retiring. To know Helen was to love her. She was devoted to being the best wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend. Family was very important to her. She liked to stay in touch with everyone and visit often. She was proud of each of her family members and the extended families she claimed. Helen thought of others first and always had only kind words to say. Her love of people was not limited to family. She had an outgoing personality and never met a stranger. She loved to take time to visit. Helen, "Nana" is survived by her son J. Ross Ayers of Kingwood, son Chuck Ayers and wife Nita, of Marshall, and daughter Nancy Turner and husband Roger of Longview. Also left to cherish her memory are her grandchildren: Tiffany Ayers of Houston, Amanda and Jesse Hibbard of Highland Park Dallas, Travis and Leslie Ayers of Dallas, and Ashley Ayers and fiance' David Thacker of Marshall. There are 5 great grandchildren of whom she loved dearly and wanted to see often: Julia, Anna, and Sarah Hibbard of Highland Park Dallas and Lola and Audrey Ayers of Dallas. Also surviving is her brother Gen. Charles Van Lon Elia and wife Barbara of Garden Ridge and a sister Carrie E. Newton of Marshall. There are also many "adopted" family members. She was preceded in death by her parents, Jim and Carrie Elia, husband Ross, daughter-in-law Judy Ayers and granddaughter Wendy Ayers of Kingwood, also, her brother John Martin Elia and sister Lottie E. Moore, and several nieces and nephews. Helen loved cooking, gardening, and never missed an activity her family members participated in. She enjoyed celebrating the holidays, church functions and those "Reunions" with family and friends. She was just our "Social Butterfly". Helen was a blessing to many and will be greatly missed. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory can be sent to the T&P Railway Museum, 800 N. Washington Ave., Ste. 1 , Marshall, Texas 75670 or Heart's Way Hospice, 205 E. Austin St., Marshall, Texas 75670. Special thanks goes out to Miss Helen's Heart's Way Hospice Team, that she loved dearly.