Helen Hogue

1899 - 1992  (92 years)

• Name	Helen Hogue
  Born	2 May 1899	Iowa
  Gender	Female
  Died	1 Jan 1992	Seattle, Washington
  Person ID	I1321	My Reynolds Line
  Last Modified	21 Jun 2020

  
  

  Family	William Franklin Devin,   b. 28 Mar 1898, Toledo, Lucas County, Ohio ,   d. 2 Feb 1982, Seattle, King County, Washington  (Age 83 years)
  Married	3 Sep 1924
  Children	1. Living   2. Living
  Last Modified	9 May 2012
  Family ID	F378	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Documents

  William F Devin-Obit Seattle Daily Times Feb 3, 1982

  
  

• Notes

  HELEN HOGUE DEVIN, 92; WAS WIFE OF SEATTLE MAYOR WILLIAM DEVIN Seattle Times, The (WA) - Tuesday, January 7, 1992 It was Helen Hogue Devin's strength in raising a family that helped her husband, William F. Devin, stay in office as mayor of Seattle for 10 years in the 1940s. "My daughters look at her as playing the full role of the woman behind the scenes," said Mrs. Devin's son, Dan Devin. "She was the unsung hero behind the male figure." Services were held Friday for Mrs. Devin, who died Jan. 1 at 92. Her husband died in 1982. The Iowa native met her husband while both attended the University of Washington, through youth activities at University Presbyterian Church, where Mrs. Devin was an active member for more than 75 years. After the two graduated and were married in 1924, Mrs. Devin began working in accounting for the University Bookstore for $125 a month. Mr. Devin earned $100 a month in a law office. One of the lessons Dan Devin said he learned from his mother was to not let insecurities or lack of confidence be an excuse for not "going for it." When William Devin became mayor in 1942, Mrs. Devin was worried about filling the role of the mayor's wife. "Once when the queen of Luxembourg came to town, (Mom) had to learn a whole lot of rigmarole about how you treat a queen and and where you sit," Dan Devin said. "She was totally psyched out by it, but she was great. She knew how to fake it and go for it." She accompanied her husband on a trip to Japan after World War II to develop good relations. He was the first American mayor to visit Japan after the war. "She believed very strongly that that's what we should do . . . that building relationships with Japanese people was the secret to future peace," Dan Devin said. Though she traveled abroad and hosted many gala events, Mrs. Devin never took herself too seriously. "She refused to ever think there was any big deal about anything she was doing and retained a great sense of humor," her son said. She was active in church and a philanthropic group, but her priority was always her family. "Her overriding trait was selflessness," grandson David Devin said. Each time William Devin faced an election, he was concerned about the toll on his family. "But Mom was able to keep things going. Keep the home fires burning. That was a great relief to him and he appreciated it," said Dan Devin. "No way was she a Nancy Reagan. There was never any taint of that. She believed in the old values. That was his decision to make on how to run the city. Her job was to support what he decided to do." Mrs. Devin is survived by her son Dan and his wife, Patti, of Seattle; son Doug and his wife, Grace Devin, of Winthrop, Okanogan County; grandchildren Melinda Deal, Julia Devin and David Devin of Seattle, Steve Devin and Betsy Devin-Smith of Winthrop; and four great-grandchildren.