Obituary: Helen Payne Humes, 83
Helen Payne Humes, 83, died Saturday, July 28, 2018. She was raised in Nolin and graduated from Sonora High School in 1953. She was the second person hired at Hardin Memorial Hospital in 1953. She married and raised four children. She was also a proud graduate of the University of Louisville and the first in her family to root for the Cardinals.
She had a remarkable career, helping bring hundreds of jobs to Kentucky and Indiana. She may have been proudest of her work as executive director of the Hardin County Chamber of Commerce and as president of the Elizabethtown/Hardin County Industrial Foundation.
HELEN PAYNE HUMES
She helped attract the first wave of Japanese investment to Kentucky and became the first woman to be named president of the Kentucky Industrial Development Corporation. She helped establish the Heartland Festival; was in the inaugural class of Leadership Kentucky; helped form Leadership Elizabethtown and became the first female member of the E-town Rotary Club.
She won numerous awards for her success in luring jobs not just to Kentucky but Indiana as well, where she worked for the Indiana Department of Commerce, then led the economic development effort in Mooresville and Morgan County. Her smile, outgoing personality and power of persuasion convinced company executives around the world to trust her and bring their businesses to her towns.
She was a loving mother, grandmother and great grandmother who shared her generous gifts and heart with family and friends. She loved shoes, and dozens of pairs adorned her closet. Her children lovingly called her “Imelda”, as in Imelda Marcos, the shoe queen.
She was preceded in death by her parents, John H. and Maime Washer Payne; one brother, Harold Payne; and her longtime pet and companion, Misty.
She is survived by her children, John Humes of Louisville, Ronny (Pam) Humes of Franklin, Tenn., Melinda (Marc) Roberts of Elizabethtown, and Lisa (Mark) Hebert of Louisville; five grandchildren, Ashley (Dustin Stanley) Roberts, Laurel (Wes Groth) Humes, Ethan Roberts, Allison Hebert, and Andrew Hebert; one great-grandchild, Emmi Groth; several nieces and nephews; and dozens of close friends who loved and laughed with her as much as she did with them.
A celebration of life is 2-4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 5, 2018, at the Thurman-Phillips House, 101 Broadway St. in Sonora with a graveside service immediately following at Sonora Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any gifts be made to Habitat for Humanity of Metro Louisville or Hurstbourne Christian Church.
The Manakee Funeral Home in Elizabethtown is in charge of arrangements.
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