Helen Eileen Mathis

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Helen Eileen Mathis, 83 years old, of Pinckneyville, Ill., passed from this earth to the loving arms of our Lord on Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2012 at 3:41 p.m. in Coulterville Care Center, Coulterville, Ill.

Helen was born on May 26, 1928 in Caygua, Ind., a daughter to Loretta Jennings Stembaugh. Her grandmother, Alice League was a Cherokee and she was always proud of her Indian heritage. On Aug. 5, 1950, she married Leonard Dean Mathis in Pinckneyville, Ill. and he preceded her in death on April 15, 1989. Helen has lived in Pinckneyville since 1974, when she moved from her hometown of Veedersburg, Ind. with her husband and family to Illinois. She was a member of Nine Mile Baptist Church, Pinckneyville, Ill., and began working as a waitress after her children started school. Helen loved flowers, crocheting, crossword puzzles and playing board games with her grandchildren. She worked as a volunteer for the Perry County Handicapped Program with Bernice Mathis for many years. Helen also wrote a story about the Great Depression when she believed Jesus came to their door that will soon be published in a Christian magazine. She was proud of that.

Helen is survived by two daughters, Nancy Wesley of Pinckneyville, Ill. and Donna (Roger) Eades of Lafayette, Ind., one son, Ricky Mathis of Anna, Ill.; one granddaughter, Ashley (Nate) Eades Love; three great grandchildren, Aiden Leonard Love, Benjamin Andrew Love and Haley Marie Eades; many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews; one "adopted son," Kevin L. McDermott of Pinckneyville, Ill. and three cherished friends, Gail Keith, Bernice Mathis and Carol Moody, all of Pinckneyville, Ill.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Leonard; one grandson, Eric Eades (father of Haley Eades) on May 2, 2006; two infant sons, Larry Dean and Roger Allen Mathis; six sisters, Patricia Felix, June Fuller, Shirley Smith, Marie Bacon, Martha Hetrick and Carol Sue Sanders and one brother, Charles Stembaugh.

Last respects could be made at Pyatt Funeral Home, Pinckneyville, Ill. on Monday, Jan. 16, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. with Brother Noah Schlag officiating. She was laid into eternal rest in Mueller Hill Cemetery, Pinckneyville, Ill. next to her husband.

Friends called at Pyatt Funeral Home, Pinckneyville, Ill. on Monday from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m.

Memorials may be made to the Alzheimers Association or the American Cancer Society.

For more information or to sign an online guest register, please visit www.pyattfuneralhome.com.