Helen Matheson, 93, a long-time Redding resident, passed away peacefully in her sleep under Hospice Care in Dade City, Florida on March 20, 2016, following a brief illness. Helen had lived with her daughter and family in Florida since 2010, enjoying the abundant sunshine and warm winters, and continuing with her quilting projects, making 52 ragtime quilts for her friends and loved ones during that time! Helen was born Helen Frances Harris in Altus, Oklahoma on April 30, 1922. She graduated Valedictorian from Ozark High School in Altus and attended Altus College and Oklahoma Baptist University on scholarship. She married Hoyt Matheson of Headrick, Oklahoma in 1941 and together they moved to Redding where Hoyt worked on the construction of Shasta Dam. When the United States entered into World War II, Hoyt enlisted in the Army and Helen returned to the family dairy farm in Oklahoma where their son, Jim, was born in 1943. Helen helped out at the dairy, worked in a peanut brittle factory and in an egg dehydration plant to save up money while Hoyt was away. These experiences and living through the depression shaped Helens strong work ethic and character. After the war, Hoyt and Helen returned to Redding with Jim where they built their home and raised their family. Together, they ran the Enterprise Store on the Four Corners (now Churn Creek and Hartnell) in Enterprise from 1946 to 1956, during which time Judy arrived in 1947. Hoyt left the store for a career in construction in 1954 and Helen followed in 1956 to begin her tenure with Safeway. She worked at both the Pine Street and Churn Creek Road locations and amassed a huge following of customers before retiring in 1981 after working 35 years in the grocery industry, the last 25 with Safeway.After retirement, Hoyt and Helen remained very active. They spent time at their cabin in Shingletown, hosting friends and family for wonderful pancake breakfasts. They enjoyed visiting yard sells and estate sells and every now and then they would find a treasure. They loved to travel and bought a motor home so they could see the country. They were fortunate to have made several memorable trips before Hoyt passed away suddenly in 1993, after 52 years of marriage.Helen was a life-long sports fan. At Ozark High, she won tennis championships in both singles and doubles and starred on the womens basketball team. Her love of sports continued throughout her lifeit was not uncommon to see Helen watching a ball game on TV and having a transistor radio plugged into her ear listening to a second game on the radio. For many years, MLB and NFL Sunday Ticket were her favorite companions. Helen went on to become an accomplished artist, earning numerous ribbons for her china painting at the Shasta County Fair. She enjoyed taking classes and learning new craftsexcelling in sewing and quilting. She was known for her recycled denim jean jackets, and made enough over the years to clothe everyone in Shasta, Tehama and Trinity Counties. Few knew that she was a talented piano player and singer, specializing in religious music, reminiscent of her childhood when she would play hymns and harmonize with her family. She was also a wonderful candy maker, making hundreds of pounds of her famous Almond Roca for friends and family during the holidays. She always looked forward to attending the retired Safeway employees quarterly breakfasts and the Crafty Ladies luncheons in Red Bluff.Helen often commented that she felt so blessed to have lived such a long and fulfilling life. She said that she didnt know anyone who had enjoyed life more than she hadthat to just wake up each morning and see a new sunrise and witness the wonder of the many beautiful things in the world that Gods hands had touched brought such joy to her heart. Helens first love was her family. She was a devoted and loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt, grandmother, and great-grandmother who was loved by all!Besides Hoyt, Helen was predeceased by her parents, Tim and Dollye Harris of Altus, Oklahoma; sister, Vina Mae (Leigh) Hunter of Topeka, Kansas; brother, Wayne (Adella) Harris of Shawnee, Oklahoma; and her beloved son, Jim (Tiny) Matheson of Shingletown.Helen is survived by her daughter, Judy (Jim) Johnson of Florida; her daughter-in-law, Nancy Matheson of Redding; her treasured grandchildren, Rene (Dean) Foster of Happy Valley, Hoyt (Lisa) Matheson of Red Bluff, Mary (Mike) Winiarek and Earl (Lisa) Johnson of Florida, Terry (Angela) Edelmann of Idaho, Heath (Shannon) Edelmann of Washington and Jennifer Valdez of Redding; and 17 great-grandchildren: Adam, Ashley, Aubrey, Cody, Colton, Drake, Emma, Gavin, Haley, James, Jami, Jordann, Keely, Kirsten, Leah, Leo, and Lily. She is also survived by many adored nieces, nephews, cousins and an abundance of cherished friends whom she dearly loved. A Celebration of Helens life will be announced at a later date.