Helen Mary Gwudz Tarr

Following the war, Helen returned to New York City and was selected as one of the early trainees as a stewardess for American Airlines.  With commercial aviation in its infancy, the airlines required stewardesses to be both nurses and short because the rear cabins of the aircraft were so low inside.  Being 5’2” and a nurse, Helen was certainly qualified.  While working for American Airlines, she lived in Long Island, New York, in order to be close to La Guardia Airport.  She met her future husband, Lonas Tarr, who was a pilot for American Overseas Airlines, which later became Pan American.  They married and lived in New York for six years before moving to Jefferson City, which was Lonas’ hometown.  He purchased the local Chevrolet dealership and opened the doors of Tarr Chevrolet Company in May 1952.

Throughout her life, Helen was very involved in many church and civic activities.  She was a long-time member of First Baptist Church and taught 2^nd grade Sunday School class for over 20 years.  She was active in PTA, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Garden Club, the Jefferson City Bowling League, and Couples Bowling League.  She loved gardening and working with her roses and, at one time, maintained over 40 rose bushes of several varieties.  With three active children, she was always helping with transporting teams or fundraising for an important cause.  Helen began taking golf lessons at age 54 and developed a passion for the game.  She played at both Lost Creek Golf Club and Morristown Country Club twice a week for many years.  She participated in golf tournaments across East Tennessee and continued to play until she was 92.

Helen and Lonas enjoyed many years of supporting Carson-Newman University.  They attended most football, basketball, and baseball games over several decades.  They endowed multiple scholarships at Carson-Newman University for students with financial needs and financially supported many other endeavors at Carson-Newman.  They were also long-time season ticket holders for the University of Tennessee football and basketball games.  Being avid sports fans and international travelers, they attended the Olympics in Tokyo in 1964; Mexico in 1968; and Australia in 2000.  They also traveled to Israel, Denmark, China, exotic islands in the South Pacific, and several countries in Africa and South America.

They were married for 62 years, before Lonas passed away in 2009.  Helen is survived by three children and their spouses: sons William (Bill) and Deirdre Tarr; Jack and Kathy Tarr; and daughter Judy Tarr Gooch and husband Warren; eleven grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren; her sister, Mary, in Old Saybrook, Connecticut; and several nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank the staff at Charter House Senior Living in Jefferson City where Helen enjoyed living for nine years.  She received excellent and loving care from a compassionate staff.  Gram, as she was lovingly called at her request, was a very positive person who always saw the “glass as half full” and spoke her mind.

Family will receive friends from 12:00 noon until 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 24, 2023 at Farrar Funeral Home. Funeral service will begin at 2:00 p.m. with Dr. Gene Wilder and Rev. Brady Tarr officiating. Graveside interment service will follow at Jefferson Memorial Gardens with military honors by VFW Post #5266.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Family and Consumer Sciences Department at Carson-Newman University, CNC Box 71902, Jefferson City, TN 37760.