Helen Colleen Day Ayers, of Brown County, passed away peacefully on June 10, 2026, at Schneck Medical Center. She was 84 years old.

Helen entered this life on December 19, 1941, in Benham, Kentucky. She was the loving daughter of Kenneth and Rachel (Caudill) Day and sister to Palmer, Glenn, Roy, James, Kenneth, Anna, and Sylvia.

Helen graduated from Clear Spring High School in 1959 as Salutatorian of her Senior Class.  She was able to receive her high school diploma and learned she had also been entered into an associate degree program at Indiana University on the same day. The school’s dean of girls told her she could enter any state college a junior with a full-ride scholarship because of her grades. IU also informed the dean that Helen was one of the fastest typists in the world.

            On March 6, 1960, Helen eloped with her sweetheart, Mickey Joel Ayers. They found love in each other and decided to get married instead of going to college.  This union lasted over 60 years until Mickey’s death on October 9, 2020.  Helen and Mickey were blessed with two sons, Lonnie and Douglas. Together the Ayers family owned and operated M.J. Ayers Water Well Drilling Company of Brown County for almost 45 years.

Helen had strong sense of desire to serve her community.  She served as the general manager of the Brown County Democrat for 21 years until her retirement in 1993. After her retirement she would go on to find and renovate houses.  Fifteen families where able to have their own homes because of these renovations.  Helen also served as part-time Emergency Medical Technician for 10 years. During this time, she and fellow EMT Mark Wayt started feeding families of the community on Thanksgiving.  This tradition has continued for over 38 years.  Helen was able to collect the names of over 2000 Veterans who served from Brown County. She had the names of the veterans listed on plaques inside the walls inside the Brown County Courthouse. Helen also raised enough funds over a six-week period to place a permanent stone memorial on the courthouse lawn without having to use a penny of tax money.

A writer from an early age, Helen has had five of her novels chosen for print, and during the covid-19 pandemic she wrote 13 novels for both children and adults. Those books on her pipeline at the present and are being pursued by two publication houses.

            She leaves a legacy of love with her children, Lonnie Ayers and his wife Conchita of Madrid, Spain, and Doug Ayers and his wife Kyoko of Tokyo, Japan, two grandchildren, Victor Ayers and Mercedes Ayers,, her youngest brother Ken Day and his wife Carol of Tyler, TX.

     Helen was preceded in death by her husband, parents, four older brothers, Palmer Day, Glenn Day, Roy Day, and James Day, sisters Anna Mikels, and Sylvia Ziegler, and one grandchild, George Ayers, the son of Doug Ayers.

A graveside service will be conducted at Valley Home Old Regular Baptist Cemetery south of Freetown with her friend Chris Criminger officiating, on Thursday June 18, 2026 at 1:00 P M.   Helen will be laid to rest next to her beloved Micky.

Memorials may be written in Helen’s name to the Valley Home Old Regular Baptist Church Cemetery fund through the funeral Home.

Final wishes of Helen have been entrusted with Hague- Zabel Funeral Home of Brownstown.