The feisty Helen-Lou Breault Atkinson passed away at 90 years young in UPMC Jameson on April 9, 2023, after a long life as a free spirit.

Born in Milford, Massachusetts, she grew up being raised by her single Mom and Grandparents. Although an only child, she had 6 uncles to keep her busy and it was one of them that gave her the nickname Harley.

In High School, she was a majorette, a "catty chatty" and "into everyone's business". At The University of Massachusetts, she received a BA in English Literature. Her summers were spent on Cape Cod either vacationing with her family or working as a waitress at a local hotel.

College is also where she met the love of her life, Thomas Edmund Atkinson Sr. They married, started their family and built a life with Thomas Atkinson Jr, Bruce Atkinson and Lynn Merryman. Starting in New York, they moved to Indianapolis and finally settled in Florida, mostly in Redington Beach. At Largo High School, she was an English teacher, Creative Writing teacher and school paper editor where her adoring students named her Miss A. She also served on the board at the Gulf Beaches Public Library for many years.

"Beach" or "Beach Grandma" loved doting on and traveling with her family that included her grandchildren Shane Merryman, Adam Atkinson and Madison Miller, along with her great grandchildren Connor Flannery, Aidan Merryman, Luca Merryman and Gracyn Miller. She was always one to give sink baths, jump the double whammy waves, have jellybeans waiting for you, make you dippy eggs, teach you to play cards, have tea parties and mostly push you to be your best self and to speak your mind. She sure knew how to do that well!

Beach loved to read, to write and to use her words! An avid New York Times Sunday crossword solver, she always had a dictionary around and enjoyed matching wits over definitions. She had a vast amount of books throughout her home including many cookbooks. Yet, her favorite meal was "one she didn't cook". She loved Paul Newman. Her first movie was Gone with the Wind. She would eat anything chocolate. She loved to travel. She loved to read at the beach. She coined the phrase "Wine Time". She asked blunt questions and enjoyed exchanging wits. She really liked you if you could banter back and even better if you cursed. She loved people but also her alone time. She loved life. And she lived it well.

In honor of her amazing life and in lieu of flowers, the family is asking that donations or books be sent to The Gulf Beaches Public Library at 200 Municipal Dr, Maderia Beach, Florida 33708.

A celebration of Life Open House will be held at the family residence in PA on April 29 from 3-8 pm.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the R. Cunningham Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc., 2429 Wilmington Road, New Castle, where online condolences may be offered to the family by visiting www.cunninghamfh.com.