Helen Hixson

Helen Marian Allen-Hixson passed away in Bremerton on April 21, 2009 at age 90.  She was born in Bremerton on May 8, 1918.  After graduating from Bremerton High School she attended business school in Seattle.  In 1937 she followed her father, Roy Allen, to Juneau, AK to find work.  She worked as a bookkeeper for Columbia Lumber Co. and soon met William E. Hixson whom she married in July 1939.  They raised 3 daughters Dorothy Marin of Anacortes, Barbara Allen & Christine Hixson, both of Bremerton.  Helen & Bill loved their life in Juneau and were avid boaters.  For 20 years they had a charter boat business, making a 900 mile voyage twice a year from the boat's storage on Lake Union, up the Inside Passage to Juneau.  They enjoyed many adventures including chartering the boat for a series of Lassie television programs in the 1960's and to Jacque Costeau and his crew for equipment during their study and filming of whales in the 1970's.  They moved to Honolulu, HI in 1962 and lived there until 1991 where they enjoyed many years of island life, boating and friends.  Helen was an avid gardener and enjoyed cooking, having a large collection of seafood recipes from Alaska and Hawaii.  She and Bill returned to Kitsap County, settling in Port Ludlow in 1991, then to Bremerton in 2002.  After 64 years of marriage, her husband Bill passed away in 2005.  Helen is survived by her 3 daughters; grandsons Mark Martin of Bellevue, WA and Shawn (Amy)  Martin of Kirkland, WA and their 3 children.  Celebration of Life will be at 1:00 pm on Saturday, May 9th at Rill's Life Tribute Center in Port Orchard.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Helen’s to DAV (Disabled American Veterans), 2315 Burwell, Bremerton, WA 98312.