OBITUARIES

Helen Agnes Jewel Costley went home to be with the Lord on July 19, 2025, at the young age of 93 years. She was born Helen Agnes Jewel Bowman on Feb. 18, 1932, to parents, John M. and Pansy M. Bowman.

Helen was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph Leland Costley, and her daughter, Dr. Kandace Costley Landreneau. She leaves behind her children, Karen Costley West and her husband Loren, Keith Costley and his wife Cheryl, and Dr. Kevin Costley; grandchildren, Amanda Costley Hunter, Christopher Selsor, Andrea Costley, Benjamin Costley, Victoria Costley Bartolotta, Kandace Lee Landreneau, and Darrick Landreneau; and many great-grandchildren.

Helen was born into humble beginnings, primarily being raised in Webb City. She mourned the loss of her mother, Pansy, at a young age, and was left with no choice but to grow up quickly. During her school-age years, Helen was a proud member of the Webb City Marching Band and played various instruments, as well as twirled the baton. During one very hot July 4th parade in the 1940s, Helen boasted that she marched in full-uniform and carried a big marching bass drum the whole length of Main Street in Joplin. Helen grew up loving the Webb City and Joplin area, where she called home, and was very knowledgeable about local lead and zinc mining history, as well as long-vanished localities, like Lakeside Park, the Southwest Missouri trolley system, and the mining chat piles. Helen lived through World War II, rationed like everyone else. She loved old movies of the golden age of Hollywood and big band music.

Webb City was her cherished community, and where she enjoyed living most of her life. Helen met Ralph Costley in the late 1940s near Carl Junction. It was not love at first sight for her, but it could be said it was for Ralph, because she recalled that he wouldn’t leave her alone, and eventually was persistent enough to win her affections. They were married on April 29, 1950, and had four children together, Karen, Kevin, Keith and Kandy. Shortly marrying, Helen and Ralph made the most important decision they could have ever made for their family, by deciding to surrender their lives to Jesus. Helen and Ralph upheld and championed the great commission all their lives, and Helen’s faith in Jesus was apparent to anyone who knew her. Helen, Ralph and their family enjoyed living many years at 1328 W. Daugherty St. in Webb City, which was Helen’s Victorian dream home. Helen made that house into a home and adorned the rooms with Irish lace curtains, a beautiful grandfather clock, and antique, imported, Victorian furniture. She was proud of it, and many memories were made in that home for children and grandchildren alike.

For many years, Helen was a member of Frisco Church in Webb City, serving in numerous capacities. She loved her church family, and many of them were lifelong friends. Helen was also a member of the Full Gospel Evangelistic Association and was a proud volunteer at Wyandotte TriState Full Gospel Youth Camp, where her children and grandchildren attended. She was also a member of the Woman’s Club in Joplin for several years, serving on the executive committee. Helen supported her children’s and grandchildren’s endeavors, such as their education, teaching, art, and music, always encouraging them to follow the Lord wherever life took them.

During her retirement years, Helen became a landscape oil painter, and even though she minimized her paintings, she became quite talented at it. As well as her painting talents, Helen had a visual eye for style, and was always the best-dressed anywhere she went. She had a unique knack to tell someone the correct color palette of clothes to wear to best suit their complexion and hair color. She was a master storyteller, had a strong command of the English language, was an ardent lover of history, and would tell stories as colorful as her personality to anyone who would listen. She was also tough as nails.

In her later years of life, Helen relocated to Shreveport, La., where she fell in love with her church family at Central Assembly of God. She made many friends there and was always more than thankful for that church. That church family helped her through the loss of a husband and a daughter.

As Helen aged, she remained largely independent and able-bodied. In more recent years, Helen routinely and longingly spoke about reuniting with the love of her life, Ralph, after living a long and fulfilled life. So, peacefully, by the Grace of God, sleeping in her bed, she left this world and is now in her husband’s arms again, rejoicing in the presence of the Jesus she loved so much.

A graveside service to celebrate Helen’s life will be held at 9 a.m. Friday, July 25, 2025, in Pleasant Hill Cemetery, County Road 260, Carl Junction. Memorial contributions may be made to Central Assembly of God Church, Hwy. 80, Haughton, LA 71037. Arrangements are under the direction of Parker Mortuary.