Helen Jean (Miller) Likens

Helen Jean (Miller) Likens, 87, died April 9, 2023, in her Dandridge, Tennessee, home following a long illness.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Helen “Hattie” Miller; father, William Miller; and her husband, Differ Wayne Likens. She is survived by her children: Debbie Blair, Terri Likens, Russell Scott Likens, Kenneth Likens and Richard Likens. She is also survived by her second partner in life, Leroy Robbins, and her younger sister, Elaine Young.

Helen was born in New York City and moved to Kentucky shortly after she married Wayne. She had a passion for the outdoors, travel and her many beloved pets. She also served as Boone County, Kentucky’s first animal shelter director and helped design the original facility.

She and Wayne retired to Tennessee in the 1990s, building a house that looked across Douglas Lake to the expanse of the Great Smoky Mountains. It was a view that inspired her to the end.

Years after Wayne died, she found second chance at love with Leroy. As partners in life, they traveled cross-country and shared many adventures and laughs together.

Helen loved music, good books, kind people and tapioca pudding.

Her legacy and passion for life lives on in her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, of whom she was very proud.

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