Helen Draper age 79, passed away March 27, 2017 at Virginia Mason Hospital in Seattle, WA.  She was born January 31, 1938 in Alaska.   When she was a young girl, she moved with her mother to Bellingham to live with her grandmother.  Later on she married and moved into the Anacortes area where she raised four daughters.  Helen worked for Island Hospital as a Ward Clerk and with the backing of her mentor Margie Huff she obtained her Nursing Degree at Skagit Valley College.  After she obtained her nursing degree she worked at various hospitals in the Skagit Valley and eventually landed at Providence Hospital in Everett where she retired as Executive Nursing Supervisor on Christmas Eve 2006.

Helen enjoyed 27 trips to Hawaii with her husband Larry whom she married September 27, 1983.  Animals and Hawaii were her passion as well as gardening at her home.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her daughter Cathy Ruschmann.

She is survived by her husband Larry, 3 daughters from a previous marriage Becky Howard of Lynnwood Diane Zapatta of Bellingham, Carrie VanHoven of Wenatchee and step-daughter Tina Draper of Darrington.

Graveside Services will be held at Hawthorne Memorial Park prior to the Memorial Service Saturday, April 8, 2017, 10:00 a.m. at Trinity Anglican Church 1200 Cleveland Ave, Mount Vernon WA 98274

Memorials may be made in Helen's name to Noah Animal Shelter 31300 Brandstrom Rd, Stanwood, WA 98292