Helen Louise Madon Heath

Surrounded by her family, Helen Louise Madon Heath, 96, passed away

Dec. 11, 2016. A coal miner’s daughter, she was born on Oct. 15, 1920

to John and Beatrice Madon in Keokee, Virginia but spent most of her

childhood in Harlan, Kentucky. In 1938, she graduated from Pine

Mountain Settlement School. In 1944, she graduated from nursing school

in Toledo, Ohio and married Fred Heath later that year. Throughout her

life, Helen had many adventures living in several states from Kentucky

through the mid-west, pacific north-west and Alaska. Her first move

to Alaska was prior to statehood; she and her husband lived briefly in

Seward, Alaska.

During the late 1960’s through the 1970’s, Helen worked as a

psychiatric nurse at Alaska Psychiatric Institute. Her nursing career

spanned over 40 years. Fred and Helen were married 53 years until his

death in 1997. After her husband’s death, Helen continued to live in

Oregon, then moved to Ohio and Texas with her daughter, Elaine, and

finally returned to Alaska in 2012 to be cared for by her daughters,

Jeanine and Julie.

Helen was known for her grandma hugs, infectious optimism, keen

intellect, and great sense of humor. In spite of losing most of her

vision in her later years, Helen continued to be an avid reader and

stayed current on world events. She was a proud Democrat. A member of

Christ First United Methodist Church, her faith in Christ was her

cornerstone.

She is survived by her 5 children, Mike (Carol) Heath of Oregon, Jeff

Heath of Oregon, Elaine Heath (Randy Bell) of North Carolina, Julie

Mathews (Steve Belden) of Alaska, and Jeanine Sparks (Jackie Fongemie)

of Alaska; fourteen grandchildren; and fifteen great grandchildren.

Helen is also survived by her brother, Randy of Florida; sister, Wilma

of Virginia; and sister, Mary Alice of Tennessee. She was preceded in

death by her parents, John and Beatrice Madon; her husband, Fred

Heath; her sisters, June and Inez; and her grandchildren, Grace and

Russell Mathews.

Her family wishes to thank Helen’s personal care attendant, Karen

Odenthal, for her loving care for the past three years.

A memorial service will be held Friday, Dec. 16, at 4 p.m. at Christ

First United Methodist Church in Wasilla, Alaska. Friends and family

are invited to attend. Helen will be interred at Pioneer Cemetery in

Palmer, Alaska on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2016.

In lieu of flowers, Helen’s family requests donations be made in her

honor to Pine Mountain Settlement School, 36 Highway 510, Pine

Mountain, Kentucky 40810-8289.

http://www.pinemountainsettlementschool.com/