Helen Geraldine "Jerry" Creech

Helen Geraldine “Jerry” (Horrall) Creech
October 11, 1930 – March 26, 2020

Helen Geraldine “Jerry” Creech, 89, Indianapolis, Indiana passed away on Thursday, March 26, 2020 at the home of her daughter Kimberly Shipley. She is survived by son Ronald Creech and wife Cheryl of Bargersville; daughter Linda (Creech) Waltman and husband Steven of Indianapolis; daughter Kimberly (Creech) Shipley and significant other Eric of Indianapolis; as well as seven grandchildren, eight great grandchildren and six great, great grandchildren.

Born Saturday, October 11, 1930 to Stacey and Ruth (Layne) Horrall in Indianapolis, Indiana, Jerry grew up in Indiana, Kentucky and South Carolina. She spent the majority of her life in Indianapolis where she raised five children with her husband Donald.

Aside from raising her children, Jerry always said that the happiest times in her life were the years she spent working for Indianapolis Public Schools. She worked both in the classroom and as a community aid helping children and parents in need. She loved working with kids and had a passion for education. She went back to school in her 50s to get her GED and spoke often about how proud she was that all of her children finished school.

Jerry was a devoted mother, grandmother, the center of our family and the very definition of unconditional love. She spent her entire adult life caring for others and putting her needs last. She experienced a lot of grief and loss in her life, most notably with the death of her young son Tommy, but still managed to remain strong and present for other people. As a mother, she gave all her children a safe, stable home and wonderful memories. As a grandmother, she made her home her grandchildren’s second home and provided a feeling of security, love and fun. She was generous with her time and wisdom and taught us all the true meaning of family.

Next to family, one of her true passions was food, something she passed on to all of us. Family dinners at her house were always special and her staple meals such as pot roast and chicken and noodles are still favorites that make us all think of her. In her later years after she was no longer able to cook, she let us spoil her rotten. She was never too full for a big piece of chocolate cake and would often save her appetite just for dessert.
She also loved the music of Andrea Bocelli and Frank Sinatra, mostly we think, because she had a crush on both of them. In the last years of her life, she lived with her daughter Kimberly. She spent her days watching her favorite crime procedurals such as NCIS, Law & Order and Blue Bloods. She was grateful to her daughter Kim and Kim’s significant other Eric, for taking such good care of her. It was her wish to pass at home and she did, surrounded by love and family.

We will miss her as long as we live, but are grateful for the time we had with her and the legacy she left. She had a big influence on all of us and was truly the best person we’ve ever known.

Helen is preceded in death by her father, Stacey Horrall; mother Ruth (Layne) Horrall, brother Thomas Horrall, sister Patricia (Horrall) Dodson, brother Timothy Horrall, husband Donald Creech, son Tommy Creech and daughter Ruth (Creech) Satkamp.