Graham Helsby

Graham Helsby, 76, passed away peacefully at home in Draper, Utah on July 5, 2024 due to the effects of Parkinson’s Disease and a sudden decline in health following a fall.
Graham was born in Cheshire, England on June 13, 1948 to Kenneth and Clarice Helsby. He attended Woolston County Primary and Secondary Schools, followed by Stretford Technical School where he graduated with a certificate in Engineering. He accepted a position at Burroughs Corporation, later Unisys, where he worked first in Farnborough, England and then in Flemington, NJ and finally in Salt Lake City Utah until 2003. 
On a rainy day in April, 1971, Graham married the most beautiful woman in the world – his beloved wife Angela (nee Mahoney). They were truly partners in life, utterly devoted to each other and madly in love until the night they were parted by his death. Anyone who met them was impressed by the depth of their affection for each other, and they were a shining example of a wonderful marriage of best friends. They supported and comforted each other, grew together, and built a beautiful life for themselves and their children. Even through the past few months of difficult health issues, their primary focus was always on each other, and it was humbling and touching to see.
Graham enjoyed a variety of hobbies throughout his life, although Parkinson’s gradually stole most of them from him over the past few years. As a young man he played guitar in a folk band; he also learned woodworking and made many beautiful pieces of furniture for his and Angela’s home. He homebrewed beer that he was proud to serve on tap in his basement pub. Graham loved to flyfish and tie his own flies, and some of his favorite moments were spent casting lines on the Provo River, floating down the Green, or in Alaska with some of his best friends catching salmon on the Talkeetna. He was also one of those special people with a talent for making friends anywhere he went, and loved to entertain whether it be a BBQ, a themed gourmet dinner, the annual Helsby Christmas Bash, or a Jimmy Buffett party around the pool. 
As a devout Catholic, Graham was honored to serve as the Grand Knight of Knights of Columbus Council 6966 at Blessed Sacrament parish in Sandy, Utah from 1992-1994, and then as Charter Grand Knight of Mother Teresa of Calcutta Council 12181 at St John the Baptist in Draper, Utah from 1998-2000. He also served on the building committee for St John the Baptist. He was especially fond of the bells installed at the church and proud of his service to the parish.
What Graham loved most, though, was his family. He was a devoted and loving husband and a patient, affectionate, and gentle father. He was the proud Grandad to three grandsons who he loved with all his heart and he enjoyed every moment spent with them. There was no place in the world Graham would rather be than at home with Angela by his side, watching his children and grandchildren thriving and he was very proud of them all.
Graham is survived by his wife Angela, his daughter Elizabeth (Jared Williams), son James (Katherine), and grandsons Charles, Jonathan, and Thomas, his sister Linsay Jennings (Vernon) and niece Lucy Wood (Tom). He is preceded in death by his parents and nephew Frazer. 
A Celebration of Life and Funeral Mass will be announced at a later date and will be arranged by Starks Funeral Parlor. Please check back here for details. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Parkinson’s Foundation at www.parkinson.org, or Catholic Community Services. To remember Graham, please take your children or grandchildren fishing.