Obituary: Helen Montgomery Farnsworth

Helen Montgomery Farnsworth, 81, passed away peacefully at home on Jan. 21, 2025, with friends and family by her side. Helen had a beautiful personality and was loved by so many here in Winter Garden and abroad.

She was born in Jacksonville, Florida, to William Thomas Shircliff Montgomery, Sr. and Irene Colyer Montgomery on Aug. 19, 1943. She was the baby girl of the family, having two older brothers (William and Robert) and was the apple of her father’s eye. 

Helen had a gifted mastery of music that began at an early age and delighted everyone she touched. Helen received a Bachelor of Music and a Master of Music Composition degree from Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida, and a Master of Piano Music degree from the Johns Hopkins Peabody Institute in Baltimore, Maryland. 

Helen married Everett Leslie “Lee” Farnsworth III in 1971, and the two traveled and lived life to the fullest, residing in Winter Garden until Lee’s passing in 2019. Helen was deeply devoted to her extended family and to her church family at the Church of the Messiah Episcopal Church in Winter Garden, Florida.

Helen is predeceased by her husband, Lee; and oldest brother, WTS Montgomery Jr.        

She is survived by her older brother, Robert Montgomery, Sr.; her sisters-in-law, Susan Farnsworth and Hazel Montgomery; her nephews, WTS Montgomery III, Robert Montgomery, Jr. (Carla), Jonathan Montgomery (Dawn), and Doug Mathews (Kathryn); nieces, Virginia Vorsanger (Bruce), Patten Moore (Henry), Marianne Hofheimer (Andy) and Alison Bartz (John); eight grandnephews; 11 grandnieces, three great-grandnephews; and three great-grandnieces.

Her large and loving family lives in Winter Garden, Florida; Jacksonville, Florida; Atlanta, Georgia; Cedar Mountain, North Carolina; London, England; Mobile, Alabama; and Auburn, Alabama.

Helen wanted everyone to know that she was ready to meet the Lord and see all her friends and family who have gone before her.

Funeral services are being handled by Baldwin Fairchild and will be held at 11 a.m. Feb. 10, 2025, at the Church of the Messiah Episcopal Church, 241 N. Main St., Winter Garden, Florida. Helen requested that bright, cheerful colors be worn to her service and that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Church of the Messiah.