Helen Mar Wilson

Passed Away on March 1, 2022

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On Tuesday March 1, 2022, Helen Mar Wilson went to her Heavenly home to be reunited with her eternal companion, Max. Her loving family was by her side. She was 91 years young.

Helen was born on June 26, 1930 to Ronald and Lillie Johnson in Tabiona, a small town in the Wasatch Mountains of Utah.  She was the third of 6 children. When she was young, her family moved to Provo, Utah so that the children would have more opportunities for a good education. She went on to earn her Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from the University of Utah.

On a weekend trip home from college, she met the love of her life, Max, while he was attending Brigham Young University. They were married on April 16, 1954, in the Salt Lake City Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. They had 3 sons together, Steven (Sheryl), David, and James (Connie).  They started their married life in Utah and moved to New Mexico living in Clayton and Albuquerque before ending up in Arizona living in Phoenix, Douglas, and then settling in Safford where they raised their sons and lived for more than 40 years. In Safford, she worked as an ER nurse for several years choosing to work overnight shifts so that someone was always at home with the boys.

Helen later got a job as a school nurse for the Safford Public Schools, where she worked for 30 years until she retired. She worked first at Lafe Nelson School and subsequently Dorothy Stinson School. After retirement, Helen continued to use her nursing skills with her energetic grandchildren.

Max and Helen served in the Mesa, Arizona Temple making bi-weekly commutes from Safford to serve in the House of the Lord. In 2000, they moved from Safford to Mesa to be closer to family and lived across the street from James and Connie. They served faithfully in the temple until Helen lost her eyesight.

Helen was preceded in death by her husband Max and her son Steven. Helen is survived by her brother, Devon Johnson, and her sister, Lillian Miller and her two sons David and James; along with 8 grandchildren, and (almost) 14 great-grandchildren. She loved being around the kids as the grandchildren and great-grandchildren brought her so much joy.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, March 11, 2022 at 11:00am in the LDS Church at 1249 South 48^th St, Mesa, AZ 85206. The internment will follow at Mountain View Cemetery, 7900 East Main St Mesa, AZ 85207.