After 17 years, Helen Dease walked out of the Pike County Salvation Army Service Center for the last time as an employee.

Her retirement date was logged March 28, 2025, but everyone knows “Miss Helen” will be a rather frequent visitor to the service center, said Donna Kidd center director.

“Everyone loves her and she loves all of us. There’s not a day that goes by that someone isn’t asking. ‘Where’s Miss Helen,’” Kidd said

Kidd said Dease has been the face of the Pike County Service Center for all those years.

“Miss Helen was the first face people saw when they walked through the door,” she continued. “She was loved and respected. We miss her but she wanted to spend more time with her family and do things that she enjoys and go places she wants to go. We miss her and wish her all the best. And, every time she walks through our door, we’ll meet her with open arms.”