Tribute to a great teacher

Helen Gast would have been the last person to want any special recognition for her life. She always preferred to stay in the background, devoting herself to her pets, flowers and family. Yet several generations of Vernon County youngsters can attribute much more than that to "Miss Helen."

My first memory of Helen Taylor was when she taught the children's Sunday School Class in the non-denominational Sunday School, at Ellis. She wasn't very much older than her pupils, but I clearly remember being excited to be in her class where we each received a small cardboard weekly bible verse with a lesson printed on the card. I don't remember the lessons as much as I remember the feeling that I had that this teacher listened to what I had to say and I felt important in her class.

Years later, my own two children were her pupils in the Nash School in the Deerfield School District. By then Helen had married Duane Gast and lived as neighbors to us on the Ellis road.

Starting school in a one-room school was not a handicap for our children because they had the excellent teaching skills of this exceptional teacher. The students formed a strong relationship with each other and with their teacher. Even the family members of each student became extended families of each other. The social aspects of the school day were only surpassed by the excellent training each child received.

Every child in the school was able to have some type of leadership role and enjoyed opportunities to use their individual skills.

When we moved from the community and our children attended a town school with individual grades, they were ahead of their new classmates in many respects. Each of them cherishes the memories of the days at Nash.

Helen went on to teach at Franklin School after Deerfield consolidated with the Nevada School system. Hundreds of students enjoyed having Miss Helen as their teacher in the more structured classroom.

Several years ago I needed some pictures from a rural school for an article I was writing. I asked Helen if she could loan me some of her pictures from Nash School. We spent a wonderful afternoon with her going through her pictures with me. She remembered each child in the impressive collection of pictures. She identified every student no matter what grade the picture portrayed. The fondness in her voice as she uncovered photo after photo of her pupils was unmistakable. There were no words of criticism, but pride in the accomplishments of the young people. I knew that each child had been blessed to have been one of Miss Helen's pupils.

The Taylor/Gast families enjoyed close relationships with their Aunt Helen. Many of her young relatives were also her students, but she did not favor them over the others in the school. During school, they were the same as the other students.

I hope that she will forgive me for writing this tribute. But I think I speak for hundreds of former students and parents who want to give credit to this quiet lady who made such an impact on her students.