Changes

Through her travels in student government, she met Ray Farabee, the president of the student body at the [[University of Texas]] at Austin. The couple wed on December 6, 1958. While her husband served in the [[United States Air Force]], Helen worked for the defunct ''Dallas Times-Herald'' (former competitor to the ''Dallas Morning News'')  and ''Better Homes and Gardens'' [[magazine]]. In Austin, she was an assistant dean of women at UT and worked with the James Stephen Hogg  Foundation for Mental Health, while her husband completed his [[Juris Doctor]]ate law degree.<ref name=handbook/>​

Through her travels in student government, she met Ray Farabee, the president of the student body at the [[University of Texas]] at Austin. The couple wed on December 6, 1958. While her husband served in the [[United States Air Force]], Helen worked for the defunct ''Dallas Times-Herald'' (former competitor to the ''Dallas Morning News'')  and ''Better Homes and Gardens'' [[magazine]]. In Austin, she was an assistant dean of women at UT and worked with the James Stephen Hogg  Foundation for Mental Health, while her husband completed his [[Juris Doctor]]ate law degree.<ref name=handbook/>​

In 1961, the Farabees moved to her husband's native Wichita Falls, where she began voluntary work with the local mental health and mental retardation board and the Wichita Falls State Hospital. By 1965, she joined her fellow Democrat  and future lieutenant governor, [[William P. Hobby, Jr., of [[Houston, Texas|Houston]] to encourage the state legislature to establish the Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, known as MHMR.<ref name=handbook/> From 1972-1974 and again in 1985, she was the president of the Texas Association of Mental Health. [[First Lady of the United States]] [[Rosalynn Carter]] appointed her to the Public Committee on Mental Health. She also served on numerous special commissions in Texas and headed the State Mental Health Code Task Force  from 1981to 1983, which culminated its work in the revision of the 1957 Texas mental health code. The new laws, pushed to passage in the state Senate by her husband, were signed into law in 1983 by Democratic [[Governor]] [[Mark White]].<ref name=handbook/>​

In 1961, the Farabees moved to her husband's native Wichita Falls, where she began voluntary work with the local mental health and mental retardation board and the Wichita Falls State Hospital. By 1965, she joined her fellow Democrat  and future lieutenant governor, William P. Hobby, Jr., of [[Houston, Texas|Houston]] to encourage the state legislature to establish the Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, known as MHMR.<ref name=handbook/> From 1972-1974 and again in 1985, she was the president of the Texas Association of Mental Health. [[First Lady]] [[Rosalynn Carter]] appointed her to the Public Committee on Mental Health. She also served on numerous special commissions in Texas and headed the State Mental Health Code Task Force  from 1981to 1983, which culminated its work in the revision of the 1957 Texas mental health code. The new laws, pushed to passage in the state Senate by her husband, were signed into law in 1983 by Democratic [[Governor]] [[Mark White]].<ref name=handbook/>​

 

Mrs. Farabee served on the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission. She worked for improved child care, assistance to the elderly, and health care for the indigent. She also served during the White administration on the Governor's Commission for Women. In 1985, she was inducted into the Texas Women's Hall of Fame because of her exemplary work in volunteerism.<ref name=handbook/>​

Mrs. Farabee served on the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission. She worked for improved child care, assistance to the elderly, and health care for the indigent. She also served during the White administration on the Governor's Commission for Women. In 1985, she was inducted into the Texas Women's Hall of Fame because of her exemplary work in volunteerism.<ref name=handbook/>

 

In 1988, shortly before her health deteriorated, Mrs. Farabee entered a pending [[special election]] to succeed her husband in Senate District 30 (Wichita Falls and a large geographic swath of West Texas). However, a committee of Democratic county leaders in the district did not endorse her candidacy. She hence withdrew from the race. Had she been chosen by the party leadership and elected by voters, she would not have lived to take the seat. Her husband's successor was instead fellow Democrat Steve Carriker, a member of the Texas House from tiny Roby in Fisher County.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3ykEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA94 |title=Country Boys: When rural Democrats got together to fill a vacancy on the ballot, they weren't about to choose a city girl|publisher=''Texas Monthly'' on Google Books|accessdate=August 21, 2019}}</ref>​

In 1988, shortly before her health deteriorated, Mrs. Farabee entered a pending [[special election]] to succeed her husband in Senate District 30 (Wichita Falls and a large geographic swath of West Texas). However, a committee of Democratic county leaders in the district did not endorse her candidacy. She hence withdrew from the race. Had she been chosen by the party leadership and elected by voters, she would not have lived to take the seat. Her husband's successor was instead fellow Democrat Steve Carriker, a member of the Texas House from tiny Roby in Fisher County.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3ykEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA94 |title=Country Boys: When rural Democrats got together to fill a vacancy on the ballot, they weren't about to choose a city girl|publisher=''Texas Monthly'' on Google Books|accessdate=August 21, 2019}}</ref>​

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