Helen Gene (Luckenbach) Donop, 84, of Mason, Texas, left the Knopp Healthcare & Rehab Center in Fredericksburg, Texas, Wednesday, November 3, 2010, to be with her Lord and Savior.

Helen was born Tuesday, April 6, 1926, in Menard, Texas to Benjamin Arthur and Myrtle Janette (Rogers) Luckenbach, the fourth of six children.

She attended Menard High School in Menard, Texas. As a young woman she was employed by the Mason Drug Store, the Brady Retail Merchant Association, and Mason National Bank.

It was in the employment of the Mason National Bank that she first met her beloved husband of 62 years, Nolan Otto Donop. Through the window of the bank Helen first saw Nolan crossing the dusty street wearing a rugged pair of cowboy boots and a crisp cowboy hat. She nudged the girl next to her and said, "Do you see that tall, handsome cowboy crossing the street? I'm going to marry him one of these days."

After proudly serving in World War II, Nolan asked for Helen's hand in marriage; she said, "Yes". They were married Sunday, August 22, 1948 at the London Methodist Church in London, Texas. Nolan and Helen were a dynamic pair, the only time you saw one without the other was at the beauty parlor or the Lion's Club.

Successful entrepreneurs since 1953, they built a life together as co-owners of the Donop Feed Store. The Mason Chamber of Commerce named the Donop Feed Store as Business of the Year more than ten years. In 1999 they named Helen as Business Woman of the Year. In recognition of their outstanding success with Vigortone feeds, Nolan and Helen were awarded trips to Jamaica, the Bahamas, Spain, Morocco, Greece, Hawaii, California, Washington DC, and Williamsburg, Virginia. Helen was also awarded numerous trips for her success as owner of a Forever Living Products warehouse.

At home, Nolan and Helen were blessed with three children, Betty Gene Garnett, Gary Nolan Donop, and Rebecca Helen Meyer. Helen devoted her life to the Lord she loved teaching Bible classes and taking children to Camp Bandina. She always spoke her mind and while she held everyone around her to high standards she was the first one there to help if they failed. Helen loved to play games, plan parties and occasionally play tricks on loved ones. She loved holidays, especially Christmas. She had a gift for making every event special.

Nolan and Helen grew old together as faithful partners in their family, their business, and most importantly in the Lord. Nolan treasured every moment with his bride. She was precious to him to the end of her days.
She was preceded in death by her parents, sister Joan Luckenbach Eckert, and sister Carlita Luckenbach Jordan. She is survived by her husband Nolan Donop of Mason, daughter and son-in-law Betty Gene and Brian Garnett of Camp Wood, daughter and son-in-law Rebecca Helen and Cody Meyer of Voss and son and daughter-in-law Gary Nolan and Belinda Donop of Art. She is also survived by her grandchildren John Brian Garnett, Natasha Anne Garnett, Amanda Helen Gene Prather, Rebecca Ruth Garnett, Jennifer Hamilton, Amanda Tiedt, John Cody Meyer, Nancy Jean Meyer; great grandchildren David Garnett, Kahner Garnett, Sarah Prather, Micaiah Prather, Abbigail Meredith, Dylan Hamilton, and Caleb Hamilton; sisters Pauline Hadley of Paint Rock and Doris Ogden of Abilene; brother and sister-in-law Roger and Tommy Lou Luckenbach of Fredonia; brother-in-law Sterling Jordan of Art; numerous nieces, nephews, and long-time family friends.
Funeral services were held Saturday, November 6, at 3:30pm at the Mason Church of Christ building with Brian Garnett leading the services. Interment followed in the Gooch Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers were Shultz Hadley, Richard Ogden, Max Jordan, John Jordan, David Eckert, Emmith Bauer, Larry Donop, James Donop and honorary pallbearer, Dickie Hadley.