It is with deep regret that we announce the passing of Helen (Nan) Underwood on June 5, 2026. Helen passed away peacefully surrounded by love.

On October 27, 1947 the earth was blessed with the birth of Helen Ann Lindsey. She was born to Jeraldine Thomas and Dewey Lindsey. Helen was the eldest child in her large family with six younger siblings — Edward, Jerry, Fern, Betty, DJ and Steve.

Helen spent her younger years winning dance competitions. She always bragged about being a great dancer. That was something she loved and missed. She also had the privilege of helping her working mom care for her younger siblings. A joy she bragged about until her dying day.

Helen was lucky enough to meet the love of her life Edward Underwood at a very young age. She found and married that man at the young age of 17. That marriage saw her through 61 years of the happiest most loving life. A life filled with cooking, dancing, laughter, hunting, fishing and camping. A life filled to the brim with love.

In those 61 years, Ed and Helen had three beautiful children who became their life — Brenda, Michelle and Edward — along with their son-in-law Martin and daughter-in-law Gina, who they loved and cherished tremendously. Those children gave Ed and Helen nine grandchildren — Cassie, Seymone, Jesika, Taran, Edward, Austin, Hunter, Nicko and Isabella — and 16 great-grandchildren — Mikhail, Desi, Liam, Lincoln, Koda, Henry, Zach, James, Arayla, Elayna, Elijah, Zoe, Payton, Amelia, Aurora and Charlie. A whole empire. There was nothing in this world that made Helen more proud than her grandbabies. She bragged about them to anyone who would listen.

Although in her later years Helen became more of a home body, she relished in the joy her memories gave her. Helen enjoyed nothing more than a vanilla ice cream cone and a drive up the coast with her loving husband.

Helen had a life well lived. She enjoyed a life full of love and laughter. She was an amazing cook and often talked about opening a restaurant one day. Nan was famous for her ocean abalone feeds. She loved cooking for all her family and friends. She had a huge love of playing canasta with family around the dinner table. She had many family card nights filled with laughter and great food she made. Her whole house full of friends and family eating fish, playing games and just enjoying each other.

She was the life of any party and she never minded laughing at herself. Helen (Nan) was full of life. Helen had many life long friends that became family. And a wonderful community that constantly surrounded her with love. She was grateful for all those that shared in the memories she cherished. She had such a will to be here for many more years. She fought so hard. Nan will be missed beyond any measure. Her absence leaves a deep wound in all our hearts.

To celebrate her life we will be having a celebration on August 22 at 2 p.m. at the Rio Dell Fire Hall. We invite any and all people who were impacted by Helen (Nan) to come and celebrate all that she was. She was an incredible woman and we will miss her deeply.