Jean (Symington) Helton

DANVERS - Mrs. Jean (Symington) Helton, 87 of Danvers, beloved wife of the late William F. Helton passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 29, 2020 at Care One Essex Park in Beverly.

Born in Peabody, she was the daughter of the late Robert and Ethel R. (Hudon) Symington. She was raised and educated in Danvers and was a graduate from the former Holten High School in Danvers. She continued her education at Salem State College.

Mrs. Helton began her professional career as a clerk with the Central Intelligence Agency in Washington D.C.. In the early 1950’s a young man named William Helton was visiting Washington D.C.. He stayed at the same boarding hotel as a young professional woman working for the CIA by the name of Jean. She moved to Chicago and worked at Midway Airport as a ticket agent. Bill and Jean corresponded frequently by letter and fell in love. They were married at Maple Street Church  Danvers, MA on April 25, 1954, a union which lasted over 62 years until his passing in 2017. Following the marriage they moved to Chicago. Home was calling and the Heltons moved back to Danvers to start a family. Jean worked at the Essex Agricultural Society. She then worked at her family’s grocery store, Bob’s Market on the corner of Northey and Bridge Streets in Salem. Later in life she worked at Fotomat, Gibney Gardens and Paperramma in Danvers.

A longtime resident of the Town of Danvers, Jean was an active member of the Maple Street Congregational Church in Danvers, where she taught Sunday School for many years. She was a past Matron of the Order of the Eastern Star in Danvers. She enjoyed spending her time playing cards and Mexican Train Dominoes yet above all else she relished the time she spent with her children and especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Jean found great pride in her professional work life. In her early 70’s she taught herself how to use computers and began a job at the First Baptist Church in Salem as secretary for 9 years. She later became church secretary at the First United Methodist Church in Hamilton, retiring at age 78. She lived a long and full life and will be deeply missed.

Jean is survived by her daughter, Heidi Ushakoff and son-in-law Alex Ushakoff of Beverly, her son William Helton of Danvers and his girlfriend Cheri Howard of Lynn, her granddaughters, Tammi, Michelle and Kerri Helton, her great grandchildren, Miranda Bujold, Maxwell Parent and Khloe Jean Parent and extended family.

ARRANGEMENTS: At this time all services are private. A memorial service for Jean will be announced and held at a later date. Assisting the family with the arrangements is the Peterson-O’Donnell Funeral Home, 167 Maple St., (Rte. 62) Danvers. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in Jean’s memory to Shriners Hospitals for Children, Attn: Office of Development, 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa FL, 33607. To share a memory or offer a condolence, please visit www.odonnellfuneralservice.com.

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