Helen Jean Claus Carter

Helen Jean Claus Carter, age 90, of Phoenix, Ariz., formerly of Tipton, Mich., passed away October 20, 2014.Helen was born May 5, 1924 on a farm in Tipton, Mich., to Burtsel and Eleanor Claus. She was a 1942 graduate of Tecumseh High School. After high school, she worked at Fred Rosencrans women’s apparel in Tecumseh. On February 15, 1944 she married Richard Carter of Toledo at the Tecumseh First Baptist Church.After raising her family, Helen worked 12 years as a Teacher’s Aide with Special Education students at the Lenawee County Intermediate School District’s Porter Center.She and her husband retired in 1985 and moved to Phoenix. They joined the First Baptist Church of Phoenix and through the church Helen volunteered for a number of years with Volunteer Interfaith Caregivers Program.Helen is survived by her children, Richard E. Carter (Bonnie) of Glendale, Ariz., Kathryn E. Miller (Preston) of Prescott, Ariz., and Phillip C. Carter (Sheila) of Glendale, Ariz.; eight grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.She was preceded in death by her parents; her twin sister, Ellen Joann at birth; another infant sister and sister, Alice Louise Travis. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2014 at the J. Gilbert Purse Funeral Home, Tecumseh with Dr. Kenneth Boyd officiating. Burial will follow in Franklin Cemetery, Tipton.Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 27, 2014, at the J. Gilbert Purse Funeral Home, Tecumseh. Contributions may be made to Navaho Ministries, Inc., 2103 W. Main Street, Box 1230, Farmington, NM 87449 or the Lenawee County Cancer Society.Condolences to the family may be made online at www.pursefuneralhome.com.