Helen passed away on Tuesday, December 14th, due to complications from acute illness at Riverwood Nursing home, in Starke, Fl. Helens Celebration of Life service will be held on January 15th, 2022 at 11 a.m. at LifeSpring Church, 1404 Bessent Rd., Starke, Fl.Helen was born in Fairbanks and grew up in neighboring Waldo, Fl. She was the daughter of Eddie Carmel Ward and Annie Maybell Ward ne Melton. She was preceded in death by her parents, and her brothers Harold Eddie Ward (Claudia) and William Carmel Ward (Dianne). Her living siblings include Allen Farriew Ward (Pat), Dorothy Mae Jessen, Doris Emogene Hunt, and Charles Edward Ward (Jeannette). She married her first husband and father of her children who preceded her in death, James Calvin Maxey in 1950. They began their family and adventures by moving cross country to California as James served in the Navy. Helens strength, love, and determination reflected in her ability to raise her children single-handedly during her husbands many deployments and to make more than one cross-country road trip with those strong-willed children. She considered her children to be her greatest accomplishment. Altogether there were eight, one child preceding Helen in death, Gary James Maxey. She is survived by her other children: Brenda Maxey-Billings (Robert), Sandra Kay Maxey, Larry Calvin Maxey (Annette), Buddy Eugene Maxey (Gena), Wanda Maxey Roe (Pete), Barry Eugene Maxey (Lisa), and Cary Edward Maxey (Sandy).She married Donald Harvey Hess in 1979. During their marriage, they resided in Jacksonville and Waldo, Florida, until his death in 2006, enjoying many years surrounded by her loved ones as seventeen grandchildren joined the family. She never complained about the noise, the mess, the untold amounts of French toast, or the reprises of the "Fruit Dog" song passed on to her grandchildren by their parents. Later she would enjoy the addition of seventeen great-grandchildren. She was fortunate to find love again, when she met Newell Brett Hope, Jr. of Interlachen, Fl., eleven years ago. She and Brett traveled and enjoyed visits with children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. They lived happily in union in Interlachen and then Keystone Heights until his death in 2019. Helen was resilient, a strong capable woman with many accomplishments, and "lived a very full life" (as she herself put it); however, dearest to her heart were her family and friends. Please join us to celebrate a remembrance of her life through the eyes of her family and friends as we recount stories and reflect on the impact her life had on us all. Memorial Service Saturday, January 15, 2022 11:00 AM - Life Springs Church 1404 Bessent Road Starke FL 32091 US Funeral Home Jones - Gallagher Funeral Home - Starke 620 E. Nona Street Starke FL - 32091 US (904) 964-6200