Johnette Helms-Mirzaian's Obituary
With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Ms. Johnette Helms-Mirzaian, a remarkable woman who touched the lives of everyone she met. Born on December 23, 1944, she spent 80 years gracing the world with her kindness, adventurous spirit, and boundless love.
Johnette, like Madonna, proudly had no middle name and always reminded people with a twinkle in her eye. She was a sweet and friendly soul who never met a stranger. Her daughter fondly recalls how she would smile and wave at people at red lights simply because "well, they smiled at me."
An avid animal lover, Johnette's passion for furry friends led to chickens and rabbits becoming a part of her household. Her green thumb was legendary, and she had a deep love for gardening, especially lilac bushes, which she adored.
Johnette was adventurous and full of life, constantly seeking out new experiences and sharing joy with her family. In 2020, she transformed her daughter's backyard into a garden oasis filled with butterflies, rabbits, chickens, and a thriving vegetable garden. This beautiful space became a place of safety and fun, a testament to Johnette's creativity and love.
Above all, Johnette's greatest joy was her family. She loved them with her whole heart, and her warmth and kindness left an indelible mark on all who knew her. Her zest for life, her infectious smile, and her unwavering love will be cherished forever.
Johnette Helms-Mirzaian leaves behind a legacy of love, joy, and boundless compassion. She will be deeply missed but never forgotten.
Johnette Helms-Mirzaian, 80, passed away on February 20, 2025, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Born on December 23, 1944, in Wichita Falls, Texas, she was raised in and around Temple, Oklahoma, before embarking on a life filled with adventure, dedication to family, and an unwavering commitment to her faith.
Graduating from Temple High School in 1963, Johnette was a majorette for the Temple Tigerettes and pursued higher education at Cameron University in Lawton. She moved to Washington, D.C., for an internship before returning to study at the University of Oklahoma. She met and fell in love with Armen H. Mirzaian, R.Ph., and the two later married in Norman, Oklahoma. They later settled in Tulsa and proudly embraced the joys of parenthood, raising five children as each was born into their expanding family. Together, Armen and Johnette experienced the births of the last three children at their home. Later in life, Johnette lived in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, before finally settling high atop a mountain in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, in a dream-like desert home with a towering saguaro cactus, palm trees, and multitudes of succulent plants, where she enjoyed breathtaking views of Lake Havasu and the sparkling, turquoise-green canal waters under the London Bridge. She graciously opened her home to friends and family, inviting all to stay as long as they wished, welcoming them to observe together the serene sunsets and native wildlife from her lovely back patio.
Throughout her life, Johnette embraced new experiences and challenges with remarkable resilience. Her career after first becoming a mother, spanned multiple roles—she worked as a loan collections officer at MidAmerica Federal S&L, owned an advertising agency that published in small-town newspapers, and excelled as an admissions director for a junior college. She dedicated herself as a paralegal for a future federal judge and lastly took to the open road as a team driver for Crete Carrier Corporation before retiring. She contributed to her many communities through organizations such as the Tulsa Welcome Wagon, Tulsa Junior League, Pharmacy Wives Guild, and various Christian Women’s outreach projects. A woman of strong Christian faith, raised in the Church of Christ, she was most recently a member of Lake Havasu Baptist Church.
A passionate traveler, Johnette explored Europe, the United Kingdom, Canada, Mexico, St. Martin in the Caribbean, and the entirety of the lower 48 United States. She gathered with her “Dizzy Dozen” classmates in Santa Fe, NM, on several special occasions for mini reunions and close fellowship with lifelong friends. She would happily drive herself and her menagerie of pets on the many road trips between Arizona and Oklahoma just to see her family. Her love for travel extended beyond leisure—she logged over a million miles as a commercial long-haul truck driver, viewing it as a way to see the country on a permanent adventure. She possessed an approachable, anything-goes attitude that translated into exploring her world with a sense of fun, wonder, and quirky humor. A desire to share her experiences resulted in various, interesting family group trips. Never meeting a stranger nor afraid to talk to anyone she encountered, she eagerly built connections to forge meaningful friendships, expanding her extended family around
the globe. She returned to Tulsa just before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and was able to excitedly greet her two latest great-grandchildren, both born during that difficult time. She remained in Tulsa until her passing.
Johnette’s interests were as vast as the miles she traveled. A talented pianist and vocalist, she carried a lifelong appreciation for music and dance. Her grandfather gifted her, as a child, a special affection for rodeo and competition. Reveling in friendly games led her to play canasta, bridge, dominoes, and bunco in social clubs, tournaments, and at family get-togethers. Johnette excelled in personal creativity, crafting in many forms, interior-exterior decor, and container gardening, transforming every home she lived in into beautiful outdoor landscapes. Passionate about animal welfare, rescue, and conservation, she held a keen love for all of nature and her wide-ranging species of companion pets. She also dedicated much of her time supporting her children’s and grandchildren's varied activities. She never missed attending significant family milestones and life events. With immense pride, Johnette would enthusiastically share her excitement about her family's accomplishments with anyone who would lend an ear. In her last years, she relished assisting to incorporate a flock of backyard chickens into a total landscape refresh at her daughter’s home, creating a haven replete with butterfly, perennial, vegetable, and ornamental gardens.
She is survived by her beloved five children: Michelle Wilbanks and husband Michael, Todd Mirzaian, Kyle Mirzaian, Aimee Mirzaian, and Bryan Mirzaian; grandchildren Alyssa Wilbanks and husband Nathan Deal, Armen Mirzaian; great-grandchildren Elijah Sonnier, Bailey Deal, and Brylee Deal; sister Amanda Smith and husband Gary; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends across the world. She was preceded in death by her former husband, the father of her children, Armen H. Mirzaian; an infant son, Gregory Armen Mirzaian; her parents, John and Vernice Helms; and her grandparents, Vernon and Meda Lagrone.
On February 28, 2025, at 10:00 AM, a Requiem Mass was held in her honor at St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Orthodox Church in Baghdad, Iraq, officiated by her brother-in-law, Ara Mirzaian. Johnette is under the care of Floral Haven in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. A Celebration of Life Memorial service will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, we kindly request a donation to any animal welfare, care, or conservation in her honor.
Johnette lived an extraordinary life, filled with love, excitement, and loyalty to those she loved. Her life embodied an adventurous, friendly, unique spirit that knew no bounds. May her memory continue to inspire all who knew and loved her to embrace life with renewed passion and purpose. She will be profoundly missed by her loving family and friends. Until we may meet again, may Johnette rest in peace and be cradled in the arms of our Lord forever.
Link to Legacy Memorial:
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/legacyremembers/johnette-helms-mirzaian-obituary?id=57811894
Link to Find a Grave Memorial:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/280515263/johnette-helms-mirzaian
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