Helen Goforth Nave passed peacefully at her home on June 16, 2022, after a long struggle with Lewy Body Dementia.
She had been a member of the Clear Creek Church of Christ since the turn of the century. She attended regularly until her illness overcame her.
She was born in Pikeville, Tn., where at one time during the depression, her father served as the county sheriff. As Helen told the story, her mother was such a good cook that men would get themselves arrested on the weekends just so they could have her breakfast biscuits and Sunday dinner.
Helen was attending Bledsoe County High School when her family moved to East Ridge. She stayed behind in Pikeville to complete the semester before joining her family in the fall of 1953, where she lived for her remaining 69 years. She transferred to Central High School where she graduated in 1955.
Carey Hanlin hired her to work in the actuarial department of Provident Life and Accident Insurance Company after her graduation at age 17. Three years later she met her future husband, Charles Kenneth Nave, at a gas station down the street from her parents’ home. They married in June of 1959 and had a daughter in 1961.
Helen and Chuck loved to travel and spend time at the beach. They also went on several cruises, flew to Hawaii, crisscrossed the northwestern and southwestern states, and drove up and down both the Eastern and Western US coastlines.
After her husband’s untimely passing, she continued to work at Provident, finally retiring on her 40th anniversary with the company. She concluded her employment as a benefits system director in the Human Resources department and the company even called her back as a consultant after her retirement.
Helen loved traveling with friends, visiting family, shopping, spending time with her extended work family, and attending her Tuesday Ladies Class at Clear Creek Church of Christ. She gave generously to her church and various charities for the homeless.
She is survived by her daughter, Kelley Nave-Tucker, her son-in-law, Alex Tucker, her sister Judy Goforth White, her brother-in-law Lynn White, her sisters-in-law Myrtle Cooley, Carla Nave, Helen Smith Nave, and Anna Ruth Hughes, brother-in-law Ausbin Hughes, seven nephews, fourteen nieces, and many great nieces and nephews, as well as many cousins from the Goforth and Reed sides of the family.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Franklin Mitchell Goforth and Lucretia Reed Goforth, her husband of 33 years, Charles Kenneth Nave, her sisters-in-law Ruth Nave, Dot Nave, Margaret Nave, and Marlene Nave Logan, her brothers-in-law Harry Nave, George Nave, Harold E. Nave Sr., Lawrence Gilbert Nave Sr., Doyle Nave, brothers-in-laws John Logan, and Charles Cooley, and nephews William “Billy” Nave and Harold E. “Butch” Nave Jr., as well as many aunts, uncles, and cousins from the Goforth and Reed sides of the family.
The family will hold a graveside memorial service on Friday, Aug. 26, at 12:30 p.m. at the National Cemetery at 1200 Bailey Ave., Chattanooga, Tn. 37404. Honorary pallbearers will be Brad White, Marco Kuysten, Gilbert Nave, Michael Nave, Mitchell Nave, David Nave, Derek Logan, and Niven Hughes.
In place of flowers, donations may be made to the Lewy Body Dementia Association. You may share fond memories and expressions of sympathy with Helen’s family at www.companionfunerals.com.
Arrangements are by the Cleveland, Tn. Chapel of Companion Funeral and Cremation Services.