HELEN RONEY LISLE,

a Green Valley resident of 33 years, passed away peacefully on Monday, Jan. 7, 2008, at La Hacienda at La Posada.

Helen was born Sept. 2, 1909, in Holton, Kan. to Mathilde and Julius Holke. She graduated from Kansas University in 1933 with a degree in Spanish. She married Donald Roney in l935.

She opened the first Welcoming Service in Sacramento, Calif., and started the first Newcomer’s Club there with a friend. In 1963, she began the world travels which took her around the world several times. Don Roney worked for the State Department in Foreign Aid, and they lived in Djakarta, Indonesia, and Saigon, Vietnam, where she did volunteer work with orphanages and blind children. She moved to Green Valley in 1974. Don Roney died in 1979.

In 1990, she met Herb Lisle, who became the love of her life. They met through a shared interest in the Green Valley Country Club where Helen had been a director and Herb was president. They married Oct. 14, 1990. Together they blended their two families, who have become good friends. In 1992, Helen suffered a stroke which left her unable to speak. She and Herb played a 15 year game of Charades.

Helen is survived by her husband Herb Lisle; immediate and extended family: Linda and Gary Gregory, David and Cynthia Roney, Gerson Kana, John and Carolyn Lisle, Diane Lisle, Bruce and Heather Lisle, Jack and Kay Holke, 11 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

A private family service will be held at a later date.