Helene M. Hoover

TEMPE – Helene M. Hoover, 91, of Tempe, a retired Arizona State University professor, died May 11, 2018. She was born in Boardcamp, Arkansas on August 15, 1926. She grew up in McClain County, Oklahoma where she moved at the age of 2 with her mother and brother, Fred. She is survived by her daughters Annette Hudnall (DJ), Rana Byerly (Bill), and Michelle Paxton (Bob), 10 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth, and her brother, Fred. A small family memorial was held on May 12, 2018, prior to burial at the Mesa Cemetery. Helene has resided at Friendship Village Tempe since 2007.

Helene married her husband, Ken, on June 8, 1946. She received her Bachelor’s in 1948 and Master’s degree in 1951 from Louisiana State University. She completed her doctorate in 1965 from Oklahoma State University. She was a professor at Arizona State University in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences from 1956 until she retired 45 years later. Helene was chairman in the Department of Home Economics for 8 years and was also the National President of Phi Upsilon Omicron from 1976-1978. She published research articles throughout her career and coauthored a college textbook with Ken in 1981. Early in her career, Helene also taught a college course on KAET TV. During her final years at ASU she traveled and conducted research in Costa Rica and Sydney, Australia with her co-authors. Throughout her teaching career, she was active in many professional societies and served on numerous professional committees, ending her career serving on the committee to form Barrett Honors College at ASU. When Helene retired in 2001 she was honored to be a guest coach at an ASU football game. She was loved and respected by her many students, colleagues and professional peers. Her family adored her, as she approached her life with honesty, generosity, integrity, compassion and dignity.