Helen M. Redfern, 97, died May 23, 2016 at Osprey Village retirement home in Amelia Island, Florida. She was born November 9, 1918 in New York City to William S. Maulsby and Jane Rextrow Maulsby, and lived in New York, Iowa, and Pennsylvania before moving to Florida. A retired free-lance editor, she had been a member of the League of Women Voters for over 65 years, serving as a vice-president of the Pennsylvania league, and on the board of directors of the Manatee County league.

She received a B.A. degree in 1939 from Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts, and a Master of Library Science degree from Clarion State College, Clarion, Pennsylvania in 1972.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 66 years, Richard K. Redfern, and her daughter Jane Redfern Scanlan. Survivors include daughters Susan Redfern, Iowa City, Iowa; Lee Redfern, Bradenton; and Nancy Redfern Freedman, Collingswood, New Jersey; grandsons Alan Freedman (Megan Marinos), Chicago, Illinois; Rich Redfern, North Liberty, Iowa; and Justin Freedman, Syracuse, New York; and son-in-law Phillip Scanlan, Amelia Island.

Helen moved to Amelia Island from Bradenton in 2011 to be near her daughter Jane. On Amelia Island Helen was part of the Jacksonville-Fernandina Beach Unitarian Universalist Church, an avid bridge player, as well as a frequent host to family members. Helen set a good example on how to age well: always take the stairs, don�t pass up any opportunity to enjoy every day, be nice and people will want to visit you.

The family is planning a celebration of her life at Osprey Village this summer.

Donations in Helen Redfern�s memory may be made to Community Hospice of Northeast Florida, 4266 Sunbeam Rd., Jacksonville, FL 32257; or to Barnabas (for Adult Bikes Program) to supply refurbished used bikes to adults on Amelia Island in need of transportation to get to work: Barnabas, 1303 Jasmine St., Suite 101, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034.