Helen Parsons (née Northrup)

Born:   6 February 1910 in Chicago, Illinois.

Died: 27 July 2003 in Truckee, California.

Helen Parsons was born Mary Helen Cowley in Chicago, the eldest of three daughters to Thomas Philip Cowley and his wife Olga Helena. After Thomas died of pneumonia in 1920, Olga met Burton Ashley Northrup, whom she married in 1922. When Burton Northrup was imprisoned in 1928 for fraud, Helen was forced to drop out of high school and work to help support her family. She later worked for her stepfather and graduated from Pasadena Junior College. She met Jack Parsons in 1933 at a congregational church gathering and the two decided to marry on 26 April 1935 at the Church of the Flowers in Glendale, California. It was through Jack that she was first exposed to Thelema. She was initiated into the 0° and I° degrees of the O.T.O. on 15 February 1941 and the III° degree on 15 April 1942 through the Agape Lodge. She was also member of the A∴A∴ taking the Oath of a Probationer with the motto "Perfect to Effect." She also used the motto "Grimaud."

It was shortly afterward, in 1942, that Helen and Jack's marriage dissolved, largely due to Jack's infidelity with Helen's half-sister Sara Northrup. She later married Wilfred Talbot Smith with whom she had a son Kwen.

Jack Parsons,

Wilfred T. Smith and

Helen Parsons

at the Turkey Farm

Helen Parsons (far left)

Wilfred T. Smith &

Jane Wolfe (far right)

4 July 1956