Helen Ruth Thomason, 81, of Dalton, Georgia, died peacefully at her home on Monday, February 1, 2016, two weeks short of her 82nd birthday.
Born with the birth defect spina bifida, she survived life-threatening surgery in her first year and defied the expectation that she would not live to age six. Throughout her life, she refused to let spina bifida determine who she was and what she could do.
Helen was a lifelong resident of Dalton, a descendant of several pioneer families who moved to Whitfield County before the Civil War. She valued family and enjoyed relationships with numerous relatives living in the area. She was a member of First United Methodist Church for more than 70 years.
Helen was preceded in death by her parents, A. Troy and Louie Roach Thomason; and sister-in-law Rose Shearouse Thomason.
She is survived by her brother, Robert Thomason of St. Johns, FL; nephews Mark (Jill) Thomason of Ft. Lauderdale, FL and Bryan (Laura) Thomason of Flower Mound, TX; six great-nieces and a great-nephew; “special” cousin Dan Burns of Stone Mountain; a large extended family, including a surviving aunt and 22 surviving first cousins; her adopted family—two long-serving, loving, and devoted caregivers, Freda Boring and Tammi Willis; and her adopted stray cat, Patches.
A memorial service to celebrate her life will be Thursday, Feb. 4 at 11 a.m. at Love Funeral Home. The Rev. Queon Smith of Newnan will officiate.
The family will receive friends at Love Funeral Home from 10 a.m. until the service at 11 a.m.
Helen donated her body to Emory University Medical School for research.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Haiti Outreach Ministries, P.O. Box 97, Doswell, VA 23047, marked “for Noel Dieuna’s school expenses.” (Noel is Helen’s scholarship student.)
Words of comfort may be sent to the family at www.lovefuneralhomega.com.
Love Funeral Home, 1402 N. Thornton Ave, Dalton (across from Hamilton Medical Center) is in charge of arrangements.