We wish to regretfully announce that Dr. Danny Orville Helton died unexpectedly but peacefully at home on Saturday, November 25th, 2023, in Iuka, Mississippi at the age of 79. Dr. Helton was born October 5th, 1944, as the only child to Yvlette and Orville Helton. He wisely married Sarah Frances Cole Helton (d. May 15th, 2018), graduated from the University of Louisville with a Ph.D. in Chemistry, had one child Raevyn (née Raymond) Helton, and spent the last few years with his second wife Tammy Valdez-Helton continuing his adventures.

Danny loved to live life as much as he enjoyed his work. He was extremely proud of his work in developing products such as Opti-Free, the multiple patents that he held, work on classified military projects during the Vietnam War, and how his work sent him all over the world. His travels to places such as Japan, Israel, England, France, and many others provided him with deep joy in his life and multiple friends he made all over the world.

He loved the time he spent on his motorcycles, was proud of his association with Rolling Thunder, enjoyed trips to Sturgis, the Iron Butt he accomplished, and the 2010 trip with Raevyn across the U.S. covering a month and 8,000 miles- a trip with tales that he would never cease to tell others. He also discovered a deep joy in parasailing at 78 years old, on his honeymoon with Tammy Valdez-Helton.

His love of Mexican food and Bar-B-Q was never satiated even when living in Texas. He could compete as to how much catfish one could eat. His love for exploring all different types of food from around the world, especially in countries he visited, only gave him a taste for more.

As a world-renowned chemist, he was often seen as serious and stoic, but he secretly held a very dry sense of humor and was happiest in the lab because he was in his element. He would periodically make chemistry jokes and puns even when there was no reaction.

Danny is survived by his wife, Tammy Valdez-Helton, and his only child, Raevyn (née Raymond) Helton (Holly). He was preceded in death by his first wife, Sarah Frances Cole Helton; his mother, Thelma Yvlette Helton; and his father, Orville Helton, who passed away exactly 21 years prior to Danny on November 25, 1999.

Cutshall Funeral Home in Iuka, MS, is entrusted with the arrangements. Visitation is scheduled from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Friday, December 1, 2023, at Cutshall Funeral Home in Iuka. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 2, 2023, at Cutshall Funeral Home Chapel in Iuka, officiated by Wade Lewis and Bro. Ray Daniel. Pallbearers include Tripp Lomenick, Ronnie Ryan, Chris Ryan, Darren McKee, Jeff Helton, and Devin Lowery. Interment will be in Belmont Memorial Gardens. An online guestbook may be accessed at www.cutshallfuneralhome.com.

As a parting bit of humor, he would appreciate everyone knowing that when a chemist dies, they Barium.