Marylou Heath Asay

Marylou Heath Asay of Show Low, Arizona passed away peacefully early Thursday morning, January 10, 2019, at Angel Wings Assisted Living in Vernon, Arizona, where she was in hospice care after a fall on December 31, 2018.

Marylou was born to Leonard and Katie Mae (Reynolds) Heath on February 24, 1929, in Blytheville, Arkansas. She grew up in Arkansas, Mississippi and Missouri before moving to southern California where she soon married and started a family. She moved to Arizona in 1958 with her second husband and her 4 sons. They lived in Glendale and Tucson. She also lived in Pinetop, Arizona and rural New Mexico for several year after retirement. She moved to Show Low 6 years ago after her last husband passed away.

Marylou is survived by her sister, Jane Null of Eureka, MT; three sons: Steve Bower of Show Low, Dale Winders of Tucson, Greg Winders of Holly Springs, MS; 6 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

Marylou was preceded in death by her son, Tim Winders; her sister, Thyra Heath; her brother, Fred Holt; her husbands: Thomas Winders, Charles (Rod) Bower, John Wadleigh, and Cliff Asay. She was also preceded in death by one grandson and one great-grandson.

Marylou was a homemaker who raised 4 boys. She was crowned Mrs. California in 1954 and was 4th runner up in the Mrs. USA contest. She also worked for the phone company in Los Angeles, was the Personnel Director at St. Mary's Hospital in Tucson for several years and managed her husband Dr. John Wadleigh's family medical practice until he retired and they moved to Pinetop.

She loved fishing, RV-ing, reading and watching birds and animals. She especially enjoyed living in the mountains and deserts of the Southwest. She was a blessing to her family and so many others during her long life here and looked forward to living in Heaven with family, friends and her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.