Helen Elizabeth (Scourey) Nadig

Helen Elizabeth (Scourey) Nadig was born to James and Adah Scourey in Hamilton, Montana on September 1, 1941. She grew up in North Idaho in the Milwaukee Railroad and logging town of Avery with her three siblings (James, Sidney “Buddy,” and Margie). She learned to read before starting school and reading remained one of her lifelong passions. During the summers of her youth, she loved to stay with her paternal grandparents in Victor, Montana where she learned about small scale family farming and home crafts from her grandmother, Helen Frances Scourey. Here, Helen developed her love of farming, gardening, crafts, and homesteading/pioneer life. She attended North Central High in Spokane prior to marrying Johann Nadig in 1958. Her husband was a member of a group of Swiss loggers who had immigrated to the US in association with the Wyssen Seilbahnen company. Helen and Johann subsequently welcomed 4 children (Helen, Johann Jr., Andrew, and Daniel) prior to moving permanently to Enumclaw, Washington in 1969.

In Enumclaw, Helen worked various jobs to support her family including at the Klinkel’s African violet shop, Bethesda Manor Nursing Home, Tacoma watershed conservation forestry, and Bookter’s Bakery. In 1979, the family welcomed their fourth son James. Thereafter, Helen also was integral in raising her grandson, Jean Paul Alexander. During the many years of having children and a grandchild in Enumclaw schools, Helen was continually active volunteering in the classrooms as a room mother and later as an FFA parent-helper. She was also active in Cub Scouts as a den mother. During these years, Helen became well known to two generations of Enumclaw children.

After James started school, Helen was proud to earn her nurse assistant certification and licensure. Most of her working life was spent as a caregiver for elderly people. She was recognized to be a tender-hearted and compassionate caregiver.

Following retirement, Helen enjoyed working as a volunteer at Plateau Outreach, the Enumclaw Senior Center, and at the Enumclaw Food Bank. At home during retirement, Helen enjoyed her many friends, neighbors, children, and grandchildren as well as her pet Chihuahua, Pepe. She especially was always happy to spend time with her dear neighbor Ron Griffin. During this time, she also greatly appreciated the companionship, devotion, and help of her “adopted son” Carlo Guevara.

In the last 4 months of her life, Helen was fortunate to receive extremely loving care from the caregivers at Expressions at Enumclaw assisted living center. With family by her side, Helen passed away on March 19, 2022.

Helen was preceded in death by her infant daughter Helen, her husband Johann, and her brother Sidney Scourey. She is survived by 4 sons, brother James Scourey, sister Margie St. John, many grandchildren, and several great-grandchildren.

For those who wish to contribute to a memorial for Helen, please go to the website of the Garvey Institute for Brain Health Solutions (GIBHS) at UW Medicine: https://online.gifts.washington.edu/peer2peer/Campaign/helen-nadig-memorial. Please share a memory of Helen on the tribute wall.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Helen Elizabeth (Scourey) Nadig, please visit our floral store.