CLAYTON, NY — On Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019 long time Clayton resident Jean Barton Heady passed away at her home under the care of of her family and loving caregivers. She was 81.
Jean was born on March 17, 1937, in the town of Orleans, daughter of the late Paul C. and Evelyn M. Schultz Barton. She grew up on her family’s farm on East Ridge Road in LaFargeville. She graduated from LaFargeville Central School in 1955 and received her Diploma in Nursing from the House of the Good Samaritan in 1958.
Jean furthered her education receiving her BS in Nursing from Syracuse University in 1980. She then went on to obtain her MS in Nursing with Concentrations in Community Health Administration from Syracuse University in 1986.
Jean married William “Billy” Turgeon on Oct. 18, 1958, at St. Mary’s Church in Clayton. After the death of Billy Turgeon in 1968, she married Dr. William C. Heady on April 1, 1969, also at St. Mary’s. Dr. Heady died in 1998.
Jean held several positions in her nursing career. She started at E. J. Noble Hospital, Alexandria Bay and went on to work for Dr. Heady in his Clayton practice.
Jean began her career at Jefferson County Public Health in 1986. She was Assistant Director of Patient Services and Supervising Public Health Nurse until she became Director of Patient Services in 1987. She retired in December of 2001.
She received several awards during her nursing career, including the New York State Nurses Association Legislative Award, the Ruth F. Wilson Award from the New York State Home Care Association, the American Nurses Association Pearl McIver Public Health Nursing Award, and the Foundation of New York State Nurses Award for Professional Achievements. Jean was Clayton Citizen of the Year in 1974.
Jean was a communicant of St. Mary’s Church where she was a Eucharistic Minister, Lay Reader, Bereavement Committee member, and was a former Trustee of the church. She was Past President and Board Member of District 6 NYSNA, and a Delegate for the American Nurses Association.
She was a member of NYSNA, Sigma Theta Tau, and its Committee on Rural Health Nursing and was a Co-Founder of Clayton Clinic of North Country Children’s Clinic.
Jean was a Past Board Member of both Thousand Islands Emergency Rescue Service (TIERS) and Thousand Islands Textile Museum, Chairperson of New York State Rural Health Council, and a Board Member for the Volunteer Transportation Center of Jefferson County.
She enjoyed cooking, gardening, her family, and spending time on the River.
Jean is survived by her six children, William T. Heady, Clayton, Victoria H. Rancier and husband, Michael, Naples, FL, Elisabeth “Lisa” Heady-Simpson and husband, Michael Simpson, Collins Landing, Richard A. Heady and wife, Janet, Cape Vincent, Deborah T. Foisy and husband, Matthew, LaFargeville, and Thomas W. Turgeon and wife, Lori, Clayton. She was predeceased by a son Clark Heady in 1974. Jean has 11 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; five siblings, Joyce Bancroft and husband, David, Oxbow, Frederick Barton, Richard Barton and wife, Kay, and Joan Fitchette, all of LaFargeville, and James Barton and wife, Carol, Clayton; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Her family wishes to express their gratitude to Jean’s caregivers, Cheryl Karpel, Valerie Fulmer, Jennifer Dennie, Audrey Boname, and Barbara Lopez.
Calling hours will be held 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 13, at Cummings Funeral Service, Inc., Clayton. The funeral Mass will be celebrated 11 a.m. Monday, Jan. 14, at St. Mary’s Church with Rev. Ray Dietzberg presiding. Burial in St. Mary’s Cemetery will be in the spring.
In lieu of flowers, her family would like donations in her name to either TIERS, P. O. Box 524 or St. Mary’s Church, 521 James St., both in Clayton, NY 13624 or River Hospital, Alexandria Bay, NY 13607.
Online condolences to her family may be posted at www.cummingsfuneral.com
