Uncle Berry and Aunt Helon
"Fraternity Gathers to pay Last
Respects to 'Uncle Berry'", Waco Tribune-Herald, August 3, 1990.
Berry Winn, one of our area's best-known outdoorsmen, died Monday night
at the age of 89. Funeral-services will be held today. Winn was one of the
last living members of a renowned group of hunters and fishermen whose reputations were
well established before I started writing this column 40 years ago. Winn and others
like Walter Wise, Frank (Two Hoe) Matthews, TJ (Pat) Patterson, Ruel Weddington, George
Weddington, Jack Sparks were the standards in our area.
Most of these old friends of Winn's left this world before he did.
And now Winn leaves behind dozens of younger friends. There's a beautiful
story about Berry and Helon Winn, and the fine group of young men the couple
"adopted" back in 1976.
A Fruitful Search
That was the year Tom King, a Baylor Student, drove out in the
country hoping to find a place to hunt. His search led him to the Winn's 300-acre
farm just off the Brazos River not far from Waco. King introduced himself and told
Berry Winn he'd been raised in the city but had always loved to hunt. He was hoping
to find a place for an occasional outing.
Winn, a long-time quail hunter, understood. He told King to come
back and they'd talk about it. It led to hundreds of young men over the last 15
years becoming tremendously close to the couple they all called Uncle Berry and Aunt
Helon. when King came back the next day, Winn was feeding the cows. King
pitched in and helped.
That began the friendship between the Winns and Tom King's friends,
fraternity brothers of Sig Ep.
"It was a gradual thing after that," recalls Steve Wilson,
one of the present Sigma Phi Epsilon members. "They have become Uncle Berry and
Aunt Helon to all these members. They've called the fraternity members their
boys."
Wilson, who will begin his senior year at Baylor in the fall, was one
of those who first heard of Berry's death. He started phoning from his parents; home
in Mesquite, and soon present and former fraternity members were relaying the sad news
about Uncle Berry. Many have gathered for Winn's funeral today.
The fraternity has kept a steady membership of about 70, and most of
its members have remained committed to the Winns.
Ample food, loving care
"These are our boys," says Helon, who is 85.
"We can't go out there without eating, " Wilson said. "Even after we
went out to the house, after coming in for Uncle Berry's funeral, Aunt Helon had chicken
and cake."
The fraternity has won numerous service awards. Its most
treasured is the National Philos award. "We were the first to get it,"
Wilson said. The fraternity earned the award for helping the Winns with their cattle
operation over the years.
One of the most-respected positions in the fraternity is that of
official ranch foreman, the job of seeing that things get done out at the Winn farm.
"We try to put something back into the community. We got real lucky back
there when our fraternity became friends with Uncle Berry and Aunt Helon.
"The ranch foreman goes out to the ranch every day. He sees
that the cattle are fed, that the farm machinery is taken care of." Wilson said
many of the fraternity members, when sick, have spent the night at the Winns.
"Aunt Helon has always taken care of us," he said.
Honorary Initiation Rites
Gathering for Berry's funeral during the past few days, fraternity
members including Grant Gamster, David Gaither, Tim Payne, Jeff Frazier, Doug Parker and
others have shared many fond memories of the association. One of the favorite
stories was the way Berry became an honorary Sig Ep.
"He went through all the initiation rites. He was real proud
of that. One of the saddest things for us when we went back to the house was seeing
his hat, with Sig Ep on it, in his chair," Wilson said.
One of my favorite fishing memories came in the 1971 Texas State Bass
tournament on Lake Whitney. Berry Winn and Walter Wise entered to compete against a
strong field of mostly much younger men. Winn was 70, He and Wise not only competed,
but finished high in the standings.
That was a great moment for me. Two tackle store heroes I'd heard
about for decades lived up to their reputations.
Letter from Helon, October, 1990
To my dear Boys--the Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity Members:
The
support, care and love you gave me during Berry's last illness and death is indescribable
and overwhelming. The wonderful sight of so many of you at the funeral was
awe-inspiring. I have not and never will be so completely humbled by your
presence. We are indeed blessed to have the wonderful association and support of the
Sig Eps over these many years.
As long as I live you must know you are welcome on this farm. --I
just couldn't cope without you. My sincere thanks to all you have done.
I, as well as Berry, dearly love each and every one of you!
Sincerely,
Aunt Helon
Letter from
Helon, February, 1992
Greetings to the Sig Eps - The pledges cleared the road passing the farm. The
members came in full force to demolish an old barn and a store house making the place much
neater. The continuing help and care they give me is beyond anyone's
imagination. I am eternally grateful. They make my life so great.
Needless to say I love each and every one.
Aunt Helon
<< Helon doing FAC at House on Speight
From the 1992 'Round-Up'
Service stands out as a key element in Sigma Phi Epsilon.
Countless efforts take high priority to improve the community including Steppin' Out
activities, highway trash pick up, weekly trips to the Methodist Home with the
Tri-Delts
and the ongoing care for both the "Ranch" and Aunt Helen, a courageous elderly
woman born in 1905.
"She climbs a ladder onto the roof of her house twice a day to
feed all her cats," Robert King ('89) remarked.
Members
daily spend their time at the Ranch fixing up odds and ends and looking after Aunt
Helen. Sig Eps also rise early three days a semester to put in long hours and hard
labor for a traditional group work day. While Aunt Helen prepares brunch, the guys
mow grass, mend and build fences, rebuild barns, work with the cattle and many other
miscellaneous chores. Time flies, and the guys find themselves sitting in the
kitchen taking a break to chat with their most treasured grandmother.
"Aunt Helen can describe every SigEp member since 1976, when the
fraternity branched off from AKPsi," said Chris Jones ('89).
They return as alumni dropping in and out throughout the seasons to
visit and reminisce over a piece of pie or cake.
In exchange for their services, Sig Eps have also earned privileges to
hold functions such as Cajun cook-outs, alumni events, sorority mixers and campouts with
enormous bonfires. With all the advantages of an old-fashioned country club, the
ranch provides the fraternity with a place to escape the everyday pressures of school
life. Swimming, hunting, fishing and picnics with girlfriends are just a few of the
many ways to relax.
Secretly, individual pockets empty for those occasional small ranch
expenses, while as a group, the fraternity pitches in for larger needed items like lawn
mowers. One of their more outstanding qualities, Sig Eps give of themselves not
grudgingly but gladly.
The primary reward gained by each member "is seeing the difference
you can make in someone else's life," Robert King said with a note of pride.
Letter from
Helon, September, 1995
Dear SigEps;
Welcome back for another year together - its always great to have the entire
group back. The SigEps who were here this past summer kept everything
normal at the ranch. With your love I could remain in my home. The
highlight of my summer was the surprise birthday you gave me for my 90th
birthday. I was shocked and please beyond words. Ben organized the party,
which was just great. Friends, family and many SigEps attended the party
of the Hilton Hotel. An occasion that I will remember for the rest of my
life. I treasure your friendship, help and care to the fullest
extent. I love each and every one of you,
Aunt Helon