Timmie “Tim” Ray Helms, 70, of Murrells Inlet, SC, passed away on Sunday, June 5, 2022 at his residence surrounded by his family. He was born January 19, 1952 in Monroe, NC, son of the late, Carl Junior Helms and Johnnie Harkey Helms.
In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by four brothers, Charles, James, Billy and Donald Helms; and one sister, Betty Eller.
He is survived by his loving wife of forty six years, Cathy Helms of Murrells Inlet; three daughters, Janna Cisne and her husband, Johnny of Murrells Inlet, Diana Tompkins and her husband, Jamie of Murrells Inlet and Stefanie Clakeley and her husband, Marty of Surfside Beach; one sister, Mary Frances Taylor of Murrells Inlet; seven grandchildren, Justin (Christen), Chrissi, Helms, Owen, Avery, Clara, and Drew; four great grandchildren, Atalaya, Isla, Margaret & Goldie; treasured nieces, Katlyn and Ashlee McGalliard; as well as many other special nieces and nephews.
In 1968, Tim started work at the young age of sixteen, where he worked for Sears in Rock Hill, SC. First he cleaned floors then went on to work in shipping and receiving. Next, Tim moved to the Automotive Department as a salesperson and at twenty he was promoted to Automotive Department Manager. At age twenty-two, Tim was transferred to a Sears store in Charlotte, NC as a salesman. He married Cathy in 1975 and transferred to Myrtle Beach in 1976 to manage the Sears Automotive Department in the Myrtle Square Mall. At twenty-six he was asked to manage the contract sales, selling appliances and floor coverings. While in this position he won many honors as top salesman in the country. At thirty-three, Tim retired from Sears and took a leap of faith to go out on his own. He opened Builder Contract Sales in a home office on Longleaf Drive selling Appliances. In 1986 Tim leased a new building in Murrells Inlet next to Inlet Square Mall and added floor coverings and a service department to the store and began doing business as Appliance Plus. In 1996 Tim built his own building at 3930 Highway 17 Bypass in Murrells Inlet, and in 2014 Tim decided to get away from appliances and concentrate on flooring. Appliance Plus then became Flooring Plus, which is still continuing to grow today.
In 2018 he retired. Tim was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed hunting and fishing. He found most joy spending time with his grandchildren on their farm in Manning or on the water fishing. He loved to travel with his family to the Bahamas, Keys, Lake Okeechobee, Costa Rica and many other places in the sun. Tim was a first class businessman and a great guy with a heart of gold and will be missed by all who knew him.
A celebration of Tim’s life will be held at 4:00pm Thursday, June 9, 2022 at Belin United Methodist Church, 4182 US-17 Business, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576. The family will receive friends immediately following the service at the Belin Cross.
The family has requested that memorial contributions be made in Tim’s name to the Camp Woodie Scholarship Fund, 8444 Old River Road, Pinewood, SC 29125 or to Belin’s Youth Group, 4182 US-17 Business, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576.
Condolences may be made at www.burroughsfh.com
Burroughs Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Murrells Inlet (843.651.1440) is in charge of arrangements.
To send flowers
to the family, please visit our floral store.