Helen Kay Carney

Helen Kay Carney (79) passed away peacefully March 28 at Friendly Horizons of the Black Hills in Piedmont, South Dakota, after a lengthy battle with dementia. Kay, as she was known to most, was born in Anchorage Hospital in 1944, and grew up in the small, frontier-like town of Wasilla Alaska, where she met her future husband Nick at the age of 12, when the Carney family arrived from Ohio in 1956. Married in 1963, she and Nick had 3 children and lived in Juneau and Anchorage before moving back to Wasilla, where they lived until finally retiring and moving to St George Utah in 1998.

She returned to school in 1973 and obtained her bachelor's degree at UAA in accounting, and went on to become a CPA, opening her own business in 1978. She was active in the Wasilla Chamber of Commerce and served many years on the Valley Hospital Board. During her nearly 25 years as a CPA, she helped many clients in starting and growing their businesses, and was the driving force behind the family's operation of Wasilla Refuse.

Fully retiring by 2000, she took full advantage of retirement enjoying her grandchildren, quilting and needlework projects, as well as taking up and excelling at golf. She and Nick traveled extensively, with multiple trips and cruises to Europe, New Zealand, Australia, Africa, South America. Two particularly happy trips were family cruises to the Caribbean for her and Nicks 50th anniversary, and a final one with family to the South Pacific. She loved meeting new people, whether business, travel, hosting guests or just chatting on a plane.

Kay is survived by her husband Nick, brother Don Carter, sisters Barb Carney and Colleen Scott, children Katie, DJ (Tracey), and Chuck (April), and grandchildren Calla, Emily, Sarah, Shawn and Ben. She is predeceased by her parents Pat and May Carter of Wasilla.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to a dementia, Alzheimer or other memory deficit foundation, research or caregivers support program of your choice in Kays name.

A Celebration of Life will be held Sunday, July 28, 2024 at the Chalet at Government Peak from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm-ish. Service will begin at 3:00pm with a Potluck BBQ around 4:45 pm-ish. Please join us, and feel free to bring a dish to share at a last party for Kay. The family hopes to see you there.