Patsy Anita Odom Helton

October 26, 2018

Patsy Anita Odom Helton, 82, joined her husband Donald Ray on Wednesday, October 25, 2018, passing from the arms of her son to those of her devoted husband of 57 years.

Patsy was a native of McKenzie, AL, and had resided in Cantonment, FL, since 1965. She was a member of the Remnant Church of Latter-Day Saints and a graduate of Troy State University (BA) and the University of Alabama (MA).

She is survived by her son, Michael Helton and son-in-law Eric O’Briant; brother-in-law, Gary Helton (Lola); sister-in-law, Glenda (Alan); nieces and nephews, Wanda Dour (Dick), Phyllis Watford (Robert), Pansy Tillman (Dick), Tommy Carnathan (Sai), Judy Kramer (Will), Charlene Frater, Ray Adams (Sidna), Shannon Odom, and Sheron Rundall.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Pansy Odom and her father, Aubrey Odom, as well as by her four siblings, Rogene (Mylan), Gaston (Ruby), Lyla Carnathan and Lula Adams (Lloyd).

Patsy was born the youngest child of five during the Depression in rural Alabama. Weighing only two pounds at birth, she was special from the start. Her father would place her on a pillow beside him in the seat of his milk truck as he made rounds through the community. She grew up lively, talkative and beautiful, winning Queen of the Strawberry Festival and Homecoming Queen, complete with hand-made tin-foil crown. She met her husband, Donald Ray, at a Reorganized Latter Day Saints church camp, where he told his friends that she was the girl he was going to marry. Marry they did, spending the rest of their lives together in service to others through education, counsel, and love. Patsy retired from teaching at Molino Elementary school, where she spent most of her 30-year career. The last 20 years of her life she enjoying by traveling, shopping and spending time with her husband, son and son-in-law. The family feels sadness, not only for its own loss, but for all those that will never be able to meet the person who could literally light up a room with a single smile.

Visitation will be Sunday, October 28, 2018, with private family visitation at 12 p.m. and public visitation from 12:30 p.m. until service time at 2 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Diane Ward and Dick Dour officiating.

Burial will follow at the Oak Hill Cemetery.

Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to the Crimson Tide Foundation at www.crimsontidefoundation.org

Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.

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Written by Jane · Filed Under Obituaries