Helen L. Lemon

Helen L. Lemon, 94, of Berrien Springs, passed away, Tuesday, October 11, 2016 at Lakeland Medical Center in St. Joseph.   A Celebration of Life Memorial Gathering will be held from 4:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. Sunday, November 6, 2016 at Lemon Creek Winery, 533 E. Lemon Creek Rd., Berrien Springs, with a Time of Reflection at 5:00 P.M. with Rev. Linda Gordon of Hinchman United Methodist Church officiating. Private burial will take place at Salem Cemetery in Berrien Springs. Memorial donations in Helen’s name may be made to Hinchman United Methodist Church. Those wishing to sign Helen’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Helen was born July 25, 1922 in Benton Harbor to Rex & Lila (Temple) Farwell. She graduated from Benton Harbor High School, Class of 1940.  On November 1, 1947 she married Robert Lemon in Benton Harbor.  Helen was employed as a bookkeeper in the accounting department of Clark Equipment in Benton Harbor, retiring after 28 years.  Helen devoted her life to her family and the family business.  She and Robert operated Lemon Creek Fruit Farm in Berrien Springs, which dates back to 1855, and she was a founding member of Lemon Creek Winery, which her family still operates.  Helen learned to cook at an early age at her family’s business, Benefield Grocery & Restaurant in Benton Heights.  She continued to refine her cooking skills and published her recipes in a cookbook.  Helen enjoyed entertaining family and friends at their summer home on Scott Lake in Bloomingdale and their winter home in Kissimmee, Florida.  You never went away hungry.  Helen  also enjoyed playing cards.  She was an accomplished bridge player who always took advantage of an opportunity to play.    Helen was a past-president of the Phi Gamma Epsilon Sorority, a member of Hinchman United Methodist Church in Hinchman and Simpson United Methodist Church in Bangor.  She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother & great-grandmother with a no-nonsense and to the point view on life.  In her free time, she enjoyed reading & dancing.    Helen is survived by her sons-Robert (Lois) Lemon of Kalamazoo, Jeffrey (Cathy) Lemon of Berrien Springs, Timothy (Katie) Lemon of Berrien Springs; six grandchildren-Tyson (Andi) Lemon, Mollie (Jeff) Trembath, Kaitlyn Lemon, Douglas (Imelda) Lemon, Makai Rosa & Megan (David) DeKoster; and nine great-grandchildren; and all the Lemon Family who called her either Mom, Grandma or Aunt Helen. She was preceded in death by her husband Robert on July 13, 2005 and her son Douglas Lemon on Nov. 12, 1989.