Published: April 30, 2008 10:25 pm            

Friends & Neighbors: Helen Conley

Ever wonder what makes this area so appealing to Dalton transplants? What is it about our little corner of the state that not only keeps them coming but makes them stay? For Helen Conley, a native of Fort Wayne, Ind., it’s as much about what Dalton doesn’t have.

“There’s nothing drastic here — no earthquakes, no floods, no extreme weather,” she said. “But we still have a change of seasons.”

When Conley and her husband, Phillip, came to Dalton in 1971, they were used to constantly moving around. Phillip’s job as an industrial engineer for Continental Can Co. had taken him to Virginia, Marietta and High Point, N.C. Then he landed a position with Queen Carpet and the family was forced to uproot once again. Thankfully, it was the last time.

“We fell in love with the area right away,” said Conley.

The couple quickly settled in to their new town. Conley got a job at Aladdin Carpet Mills and began meeting people through work. It wasn’t long before she found herself doing something she hadn’t attempted since high school — acting.

“One day Bobbi Butler and I saw where Dalton Little Theatre was having a reading, and we decided to go down there just for kicks,” she said. “I ended up getting cast (in ‘The Curious Savage’). I did a lot of plays after that.”

As a result, Conley befriended the grande dame of DLT, Emily Davies. Davies took the newbie under her wing and introduced her to lots more friendly Daltonians.

“I’m so grateful to her for that,” she said.

The Conleys entrenched themselves further into Dalton in 1972 when they helped establish Christ the King Lutheran Church. The church initially met at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church before moving to the corner of Emery Street and Thornton Avenue. From there, the church moved to Gordon Street before finally purchasing the former St. Joseph’s Catholic Church building on Thornton Avenue.

Conley retired from Aladdin in 1998, fully planning on staying at home for a while. However, that didn’t last long, and soon she went to work part time for Koret. It was then she decided she needed to volunteer, so she gave Willa Dendy at Big Brothers Big Sisters a call.

“Willa’s receptionist was out on medical leave, so I filled in,” Conley said. “I’ve been there ever since, doing whatever needs to be done.”

Conley served as a Buddy for a year with a set of twins but now is more involved with a new concept, Buddy Bunch. For Buddy Bunch, seniors from area high schools go in groups to middle schools and elementary schools where they are partnered with younger students.

“I enjoy watching when senior groups meet with their Buddies and see how they interact,” she said. “They’re great with them. And the young ones love having a senior spend time with them.”

Conley doesn’t understand why the Buddy program faces a continual shortage of adult volunteers willing to give a little of their time to help a child.

“It’s one hour, one day a week in school. That’s all it takes,” said Conley. “There’s no contact outside of that. I’ve never talked to anybody who didn’t get more out of it than the child did. A lot of children just want to talk. I sure would like to see people beating down the doors wanting to be a Buddy.”

Conley also serves on the board of directors for Georgia Sheriff’s Cherokee Estate. She is particularly proud of the work the board does for the residents there.

“There are 32 girls. None of them are bad girls, they’ve just been taken out of bad home situations,” said Conley. “The grounds are super. They live in individual houses with houseparents and have a regular home life. They go to church, have an education center with a tutor on staff and horses. We’re putting in a new pool right now.”

She stays busiest serving as treasurer for the church’s women’s group. The group of 10 helps out needy families at Christmas, provides the pastor with a discretionary fund, stocks a food pantry and serves brunch once a month for Drug Court graduations.

“We’re a small group but we get involved as much as possible,” she said.

In her spare time, Conley enjoys growing flowers, reading and traveling with the Recycled Teenagers and Wachovia Fun Club. She and Phillip are currently planning a fall trip to their favorite place, London. It will be their fifth visit. Still, nothing beats home.

“When we retired, Phillip asked me where I wanted to go, and I said, ‘Nowhere. I want to stay right here.’”

        

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