Helen Marjorie Crawford Horton (1900–1971)
Early Life and Family
Helen Marjorie Crawford was born on April 30, 1900, in Dodge City, Kansas, to Judson Foster Crawford and Josie Winifred Hammond Crawford. Her arrival made headlines in the local papers, with The Dodge City Reporter announcing, “A twelve-pound girl arrived at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Judd Crawford last Monday morning. All doing well.”
Helen grew up in Dodge City, living at 4th Avenue as a baby and later at other homes in town. She was listed in the 1900, 1905, 1910, and 1915 census records as part of the Crawford household. In 1916, she was a freshman at Dodge City High School, marking the beginning of a life rooted in education and community.
Marriage and Children
On July 16, 1919, at the age of 19, Helen married Russel Clifton Horton in Dodge City. Russel, recently discharged from military service in World War I, was employed by the Santa Fe Railroad at the time. The couple made their home in Dodge City, where they raised their family and became well-known members of the community.
Helen and Russel had three children:
- Russel Clifton Horton Jr., born October 13, 1920
- Marjorie Louise Horton, born January 11, 1923
- Elaine Marilyn Horton, born July 1, 1926
Helen managed a busy household while Russel pursued a career that included work as a railroad machinist, post office mail carrier, and military service during World War II.
Later Years and Moves
The Horton family remained in Dodge City for many years. Census records from 1920, 1930, and 1940 show them living at various addresses in the city. During the mid-1940s, Helen and Russel relocated to San Angelo, Texas, and later to Gila Bend, Arizona.
After Russel’s death in 1958, Helen eventually moved to El Paso, Texas, where she lived for the last twelve years of her life. She remained close to her children and grandchildren during these years.
Death and Legacy
Helen Marjorie Crawford Horton died on November 1, 1971, in El Paso at the age of 71. Her obituary appeared in both the El Paso Times and the Dodge City Daily Globe, which described her as a longtime resident of Dodge City and a woman who was dearly missed by her children and extended family.
She was buried beside her husband at Fort Bliss National Cemetery in El Paso. Survivors included her son, Russel Jr.; daughter, Elaine Wells of El Paso; two brothers, Leon Crawford of Dodge City and Hugh Crawford of Flagstaff, Arizona; and two sisters, Lois Maden of Pueblo, Colorado, and Mrs. Carl Noll of Taos, New Mexico. She also left behind eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Children and Their Families
- Russel Clifton Horton Jr. served in the U.S. Army during World War II, reaching the rank of Master Sergeant. He married Eileen Avenelle Jones in 1941. They raised a family in Dodge City and remained active in the community. Russel Jr. died in 2006 and is buried at Maple Grove Cemetery in Dodge City.
- Marjorie Louise Horton married James Kenneth Brock in 1940 and later married a man named Machado. She died young in 1953 in Phoenix, Arizona, and was buried at Maple Grove Cemetery in Dodge City.
- Elaine Marilyn Horton married George Alton Wells in 1946 at Sheppard Field in Texas. The couple made their home in El Paso, where they raised a family. Elaine passed away in 2008 and was buried at Restlawn Memorial Park in El Paso.
Historical Context
Helen’s life spanned some of the most transformative decades in American history. Born at the dawn of the 20th century, she lived through two World Wars, the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl years in Kansas, and the rapid societal changes of the postwar era. Her husband and son both served their country in times of war, and her family remained rooted in civic duty and service.
Helen’s story is a reminder of the quiet strength of women who held families together during times of war, relocation, and change. Her legacy lives on through her descendants and the stories they continue to share.
The above biography was created by ChatGPT from a genealogy narrative report about Helen Crawford Horton.
Check out Helen Crawford’s profiles on
- Ancestry: Heartland Genealogy tree
- FamilySearch – KC9F-NNJ
- WikiTree – Crawford-8399