Helen Francis Appleby passed peacefully in her home surrounded by family on March 24, 2020. She was born June 18, 1931, to Carl Edward and Rosie Belle (Murray) Greene at Coweta, Oklahoma. She was a proud member of the Cherokee Tribe and the McKinleyville Baptist Church.

She worked as a sawmill bookkeeper and office manager starting in the early 60s for Humboldt Fir Lumber in Hoopa and ending at Halvorsen Lumber in Eureka. After the mills closed, she owned an appliance business in White Salmon, Washington, until she moved back to Humboldt to be near family.

She was famous for her Southern-style biscuits and gravy, chicken and dumplings, and blackberry cobbler. She was at her best making huge meals for family gatherings and had a steady stream of visitors coming by to see if there were leftovers. She dearly loved her boys, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She is survived by sons Jack Mullins (Marie) and Dennis Mullins (Pam) and daughter-in-law Marcia Mullins. Sister Pauline Hewitt (Stan) and brothers Clifford Greene, Edward Greene (Thelma) and John Greene (Johnnie) all of Coweta, OK. Grandchildren Roxie Ehrmann, Anna Mullins, Carl (C.J.) Mullins, Melody Schwartzman, John Mullins, and Marianne Thompson and 12 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded by sons Roger Mullins and Carl David Mullins, her parents Carl and Belle Greene, sister Nina Bell Wise, spouses Daniel Mullins and Frank Appleby and special friend and companion Buck Wallace.

Services will be announced at a later date.

The family would like to say a special thank you to church members who took her to and from services and paid her visits and brought cards and flowers when she wasn’t able to attend. To her grandchildren and extended family who provided excellent care. And to the Potawat UIHS and Hospice, who without exception treated her as a cherished family member.

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