Donald Gene Helvie, 57, Raymond High School Math teacher and resident of Grayland, Wash., died Thursday, Oct. 5, 2017, at Grays Harbor Community Hospital in Aberdeen, Wash. following a battle with cancer.
Don was born on May 22, 1960, in Myrtle Point, Ore. to Leon and Minnie Geraldine (Johnson) Helvie. Don lived in Coquille Ore., Brisbane Australia, Central Point, Ore. and Goldendale, Wash. where he graduated from Goldendale High School. He was selected as a High School All American for basketball his junior year.
Don attended Yakima Valley Community College where he worked for the Upward Bound Program. He worked at K-Mart until graduating from Central Washington University with his Bachelor’s Degree and Master’s Degree in Mathematics Education.
Don went on to teach Math at Granger High School and coached the varsity basketball team. He then transferred to Montesano High School for 14 years and then for the last four years at Raymond High School.
Don was a member of the WEA, NEA and the Washington State Math Council, District 9 Co-Director.
Don loved teaching math and making students think and learn. He enjoyed coaching basketball and umpiring baseball and fast pitch games. Don collected baseball, basketball and hockey cards. He enjoyed traveling by car, not plane, and visiting stadiums around the country. He loved listening to music of all kinds. He spent much of his time making paths in the woods behind his home and loved showing them off to everyone who stopped by.
Don is survived by his Daughter, Danielle Helvie-Juarez and boyfriend Toby Veldhuis of Culbertson, Mont.; his father Leon (June Rose) Helvie of Albany, Ore.; a brother Roger (Jodi) Helvie of Soldotna, Alaska; two sisters: Michel Helvie and Isabelle (Douglas) Helvie-Clark; the love of his life, Teri Hulbert of Grayland, Wash.; nephews: Craig Helvie and Brandon Wolfe Helvie; a niece: Kayli Helvie
A memorial service will be held at Ocosta Jr./Sr. High School on Saturday, Oct. 14, at 2 p.m. Following the service will be a potluck and time to share memories.
Any memorials may be made to the Raymond Schools Foundation for a math scholarship in the memory of Donald Gene Helvie. Donations can be made at
www.facebook.com/raymondschoolsfoundation/ or can be mailed to Raymond High School, Dave Vetter, 1016 Commercial Street, Raymond, WA 98577.
A message of condolence or of a memory can be sent to the family at www.fernhillfuneral.com.
Arrangements are entrusted to Twibell’s Fern Hill Funeral Home in Aberdeen, Wash.
