Another longtime West Seattle businessperson has died: Helen Armfield (Williamson, Zaar) Damron, 94, who had lived in West Seattle for almost 80 years and was an active member of the business community for several decades. Her memorial service is set for tomorrow, starting at 1 pm at Grace Church, 10323 28th Avenue SW. In 1966, she and husband Clarence Zaar opened Clarence Zaar Real Estate in The Junction (it now operates under the name Keller Williams Realty). She had worked in the real estate business in West Seattle since 1935, starting out as an errand runner for E.H. Savage Realty. Helen was a 1932 graduate of West Seattle High School; her family moved to Seattle from LaCrosse, Washington, in 1931, so that her father could seek work. Read on for more about her:

Shortly after the move, her mother died and she was tasked with raising her siblings, Franklin and Elaine, who are deceased. Between 1932 and 1935 she took classes and worked for a time at Lafayette Elementary. She had also been active at the Gatewood Church, where she taught Sunday school for many years, along with being a Pioneer Girls leader, and eventually a member of Westside Presbyterian.

Helen’s family say they will remember her for her pinochle skills, collection of teddy bears, and her love of travel. Starting in the late 1970s, she became a world traveler going to the Holy Land, Africa, England, and Barbados. She was also a frequent visitor to Hawaii, where she was often accompanied by family or friends. She and her third husband, Elton Damron, owned a RV and traveled around the United States and Canada. She and Elton moved into The Kenney‘s Ballymena independent-living area in 1993. She continued to live in the Ballymena until last year, when she moved to another section of The Kenney. Her daughter Carol said her mom had a keen and active mind until the very end.

Helen is survived by her daughter, Carol Bianchi of West Seattle, along with seven stepchildren, 17 grandchildren, and 24 great-grandchildren. Her family asks that any memorial donations please be given to Young Life Capernaum. PO Box 55998, Seattle, WA 98155.