Marc William Helton

Marc William Helton ìCreeperî, 34, of Lexington, KY passed away November 28th. Marc was born in Trenton, Michigan, raised in Hendersonville, NC and spent the last 12 years of his life in Lexington, KY.

Marc was a 1994 graduate of East Henderson High School, where he excelled in athletics and academics. He was an All-Area Basketball player, played in the Blue/White Senior All Star Game in í94 and earned the award for Top Male Senior Athlete for all of EHHS. More importantly, he was a great student and respected peer ñ as he was voted Senior Class President (with Chris Pompey and Jeff Bishop as his secret service) and recipient of the Michael Bayne Scholarship for outstanding Athleticism, Academics, Character and Kindness.

Marc graduated and played collegiate basketball at Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, TN. He graduated with a 3.3 GPA in pre-med in 1998 and immediately moved to Lexington, KY to work for the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy. Marc spent 6 years doing research at UK, where he was highly involved with a number of research studies that were published by his Department.

For the last 6 years, Marc has worked for Biomet (Biomet Tri-State) in Medical Sales. As expected, Marc has been a multiple award winner ñ Presidents Club, Newcomer Award, Silver Star recipient, Gold Star recipient, etc. during his time at Biomet. Marc prided himself on being as knowledgeable about any and every procedure, product and case he was in with the absolute respect of the entire operating room. Marc loved his work and loved the people he interacted with on a daily basis ñ from surgeons to nurses and surgical techs as well as other reps he befriended in Lexington. Marc was the rep you would want in your operating room if you were having a shoulder, knee or hip procedure in Lexington, KY. His passion for his company, products and customers was second to none.

Personally, Marc never stopped playing sports even as his work demands grew. Marc was a regular on the basketball courts/leagues around Lexington, enjoyed golfing, playing volleyball and loved his softball team filled with close friends. It was not uncommon for Marc to work 12-14 hours and run to a game without taking a break at home ñ if for nothing else because he believed in keeping his commitments and enjoyed the competition.

Over the last five years, Marcís love for sports, friends/family and work added another activity in hunting. Just like he did with everything else in his life, he threw himself into hunting both in educating himself along with taking every opportunity to get outside to enjoy the outdoors and sport.

Marc was an avid UK fan and was a fixture in the orange parking lot for all of UKís football games. Marc loved sitting in section 143 with his close friends (Bubba, Pooh Beer and Jolly) for last 8-9 years. Marc enjoyed the games but loved the tailgating festivities and fellowship even more. Marc was always one of the first to arrive on Saturdays and if you ever visited Marc to partake in a game, you better be up early and ready to go, long before game time.

Marc was also a huge fan of University of Michigan football and loved going to the Big House in Ann Arbor, MI to cheer on his Wolverines. Eight out of the last nine years, Marc has made an annual trip to Ann Arbor to tailgate and root for Michigan. Regular attendees with Marc were his younger brother, Jared Helton and best friends, Barrett (Bubba) Clayton and Brandon Craft ñ his father Bruce Helton was also able to make a game one season and Marc always called it his best tripÖ.

Outside of his time in Lexington, Marcís favorite place to be was on Lake Lanier in Landrum, SC with his family. Marc would get there any weekend he could get away from work and loved to enjoy the water, work on the place and sit by the fire talking with friends and family. Marc was as relaxed and content with family at the lake as anywhere possible ñ always saying ìIím on vacationî even if he was working on the place, or there for a single dayÖ.

Marc leaves behind a close family ñ only brought closer because of Marcís qualities. Marc was the middle child of a three son family. As most families are, the Heltonís were led and raised by Bruce and Brenda Helton, but Marc was the bond having strong, loving relationships with each person.

From his mother ñ Brenda Helton ñ Marc learned about caring, compassion, conversation and love of children. Marc loved his mother dearly, was proud of her work with children and would always listen to her talk about work and life.

From his father ñ Bruce Helton ñ Marc learned so much about sports, hard work, competitiveness and strength. Marc was almost done completely remodeling his home having done most of the work by himself or with his dad or brother Ericís help.

Marc was so proud to be Bruce and Brenda Heltonís son.

Marc also leaves behind two brothers ñ Older Brother Eric, 36, and Younger Brother Jared, 30. Marc was extremely close to both of his brothers and loved nothing more than to spend time with them. Marc had an amazing ability to be close with both brothers and connect with them on their own level. With Eric, they would talk about hunting and the outdoors while he and Jared connected through work and sports. In both cases, Marc always made his brothers feel special, loved, and you knew he was proud of you just by the smile on his face.

Marc was also an amazing, loving, proud uncle to both of Jared Heltonís daughters. Marc was the godfather of Anna Elizabeth Helton, 19 months and met Ava Lynn Helton, 6 days, the weekend of his passing. Words cannot express how much Anna and Ava will miss not having Marcís love and admiration in their life.

Other family in Marcís absence:

Grandmother Beatrice Jones Helton of Riverview, MI, Aunt Brenda Helton and Cousin Stephanie Grega of Riverview, MI. Aunt Barbara Helton Daniel, Uncle Don Daniel of Fort Myers, FL and Cousin Brandi Daniel of Atlanta, GA. Uncles Greg, Dennis and Glen Breece all of the state of Michigan.

Marc leaves countless friends and acquaintances throughout the years from Hendersonville to college and in Lexington. Marc was the most caring and protective of friends. He never turned away a buddy that needed a place to live, needed financial help or just needed someone to be by his or her side. As he did with his family, Marc would talk proudly of his friends and always have their back. In a perfect example of Marcís loving, magnetic and infectious personality, his friends ran the spectrum of personalities, backgrounds, interests, etc. In writing about Marcís life it would be a mistake to not mention some of his closest friends ñ

Ryan Wentz (West Virginia), best friend he would spend a week hunting with every year. Ryan and Marc met at Biomet and were extremely close.

Paul Melton (Norfolk, VA), best friend that he was so proud of and honored to be associated with. Marc and Paul met through mutual friends in Lexington.

Barrett (Bubba) Clayton (Lexington, KY), best friend Marc met in Lexington playing basketball. Marc and Bubba were like family and Marc always talked about how much he loved and admired Bubbaís entire family – Wife Amy and sons Bryce and Spencer.

Brandon Craft (Asheville, NC), best friend and former roommate that was a fixture for any Michigan football game, Widespread Panic concert and someone Marc always kept in close contact whether Craft was in Kentucky, Colorado or North Carolina.

There are countless other friends that Marc would consider dear to himÖ.

In Marcís style, keeping things simple and thinking of others, we know he would not want flowers sent in his name. The family is requesting that a donation be made to the Makenna Foundation (www.makennafoundation.com). You can contact the Makenna Foundation by phone @ 859-422-2010 (Sheila David) or mail to: 2808 Palumbo Drive, Lexington, KY 40509. Marc was friends with Greg and Sheila David and was a contributor to their great foundation and helped get others involved. Please make sure your donation goes in Marcís name.