Helen Norene McDonald Burt died on Nov. 23 at her home on the Vineyard.

She was born on Oct. 10, 1926, in New Hope, Ala., the fourth of seven children. Growing up on the family farm was not very exciting. Her father worked very hard to support the family and each of the children had their own jobs to do each day. Helen’s was to milk the cows before leaving for school. In the summer she spent her days chopping and picking cotton in the fields. The family raised their own food and cotton was the cash crop in those days.

Her oldest sister Ruth married very young and her next oldest sister Muriel left and went to work in Chicago. Helen wanted very much to have a life different from the farm and she left after high school to join her sister Muriel in Chicago. There she met Henry Burt and they were married on the Island in 1956.

Helen worked as a draftsman for Western Electric Co. in Chicago until Helen and Henry moved to the Vineyard to eventually buy the boatyard in Vineyard Haven started by Henry’s father. She worked as a secretary for Dr. Russell Hoxsie in Vineyard Haven for several years, and then began working at the Tisbury School, making and serving meals in the lunchroom.

She was an accomplished cook, a fine seamstress and housekeeper and a very caring person. She would often visit friends and fellow members of the First Baptist Church either at home or in the hospital. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

She is survived by her former husband, Henry O. Burt of Vineyard Haven; her son, Stephen A. Burt and his wife Brenda, of Hanson; son in law Shawn Smith of Mashpee and three grandchildren, Ryan Burt, Shannon Burt, and Ross Stevenson Smith. She is also survived by her brother, Gordon McDonald; her sisters, Jennie Keel and Sara Fisk, and many nieces and nephews, all of Huntsville, Ala.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be given to the First Baptist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 806, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568.

There will be a graveside service on Saturday, Nov. 27 in the Oak Grove Cemetery in Vineyard Haven at 10:30 a.m., followed by a celebration of life service at 11 a.m. at the First Baptist Church of Vineyard Haven. Presiding at the services will be the Rev. Dr. Roger Spinney.

Funeral arrangements are under the care of the Chapman, Cole and Gleason Funeral Home in Oak Bluffs. Please visit ccgfuneralhome.com for online guest book and information.