IN LOVING MEMORY OF
Barbara Ann
Heid
February 20, 1939 – September 19, 2012
Obituary
Barbara Ann Heid, 73, Lee's Summit, Missouri, formerly of Archie, Missouri, died Wednesday, September 19, 2012 at her home. Memorial services will be held at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, September 22 at the Atkinson Chapel, Harrisonville, Missouri. Friends may call from 4:00-5:30 p.m. Saturday at the chapel. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Barbara's name to Valley Nature Center, P.O. Box 8125, Weslaco, TX 78599-8125. Donations will be used to help build a new environmental education complex adjacent to the nature area.
Barbara led an adventurous and fun-filled life. Born February 20, 1939, she grew up on a farm outside Archie, MO, where she lived with her mother, Dorothy May Hess, father, Joseph Henry Hess and six siblings. Barbara fondly remembered the many trips her family took out west and to the Rio Grande Valley.
Barbara was an avid basketball player at Archie High School, where she graduated in 1957. On July 14, 1957, she married Walter George Heid, Jr., of Harrisonville. She attended the University of Missouri in Columbia before the couple and their first born, daughter Leiann, moved to Washington, D.C., in 1960. There, Elizabeth Jane and George Lewis were born. Barbara focused on raising her children and manually typing Walter's PhD dissertation with seven carbon copies on a manual typewriter. The family moved to Bozeman, Montana in 1967, where the family took up downhill skiing, hiking, rock hunting and camping. Barbara was a frequent volunteer at the local hospital and a 4-H leader.
In 1975, the family made another move to St. George, Kansas, where their focus changed to sporting events and horse competitions, and managing a Christmas tree farm. Barbara was an active member of Extension Homemakers Unit and taught some of the early microwave cooking classes for the community. Barbara returned to college along with her children and, after 30 years, proudly earned her bachelor's degree in Home Economics from Kansas State University in Manhattan. She then worked for Waddell & Reed Financial Service, providing financial planning.
In 1987, Barbara and Walter accepted an overseas employment opportunity with USAID in Kenya, Africa. Barbara helped many of the locals with their personal needs, bringing them supplies, accompanying them to medical appointments and inspiring their lives. They returned to Harrisonville in 1991 to assist their parents in their final years. Barbara and Walter moved to Donna, Texas, in the Rio Grande Valley in 1993 where they immersed themselves in cultural events, nature and volunteerism.
Barbara spent much of her time in the Rio Grande Valley giving back to the community. She and Walter were faithful volunteers at the Weslaco Chamber of Commerce for 20 years; they also volunteered at Estero Llano Grande State Park, Frontera Audubon, Valley Nature Center, the Scenic Wetlands in Edinburg, the Weslaco Museum and the Weslaco Public Library.
Barbara and Walter moved back to Lee's Summit in March 2012 and celebrated 55 years of love and friendship. They enjoyed many adventures, traveling to all 50 states, and more than 70 countries in six continents. They have taken their children and grandchildren on several adventures and made many friends along the way. Barbara enjoyed bird watching with Walter, from their back yard to birding trips in the tropics. They volunteered many summers in national parks, forests and wildlife refuges, including the states of Alaska, Minnesota, Maine, Arizona and Colorado.
Barbara is survived by her husband, Walter; siblings, Joseph Hess (Jeanette) of Iola, KS, Jerry Hess (Betty) of Clanton, AL, Garvey Hess (Janice) of Stephenville, TX, Janice Strawbridge of Archie, MO, and Glenn Hess (Claudine) of Adrian, MO; sister-in-law Reba Hess of Laurel, MS; three children, Leiann Nelson (Steve) of Harrisonville, Elizabeth Stabenow (Earl) of Moorhead, MN, and George Heid (Holly) of Arlington, TX; five grandchildren, Wade Nelson (Ivy) of Monett, MO, Craig Nelson (Lindsay) of Blue Springs, MO, Jennifer Stabenow of New Hope, MN, Kimberly Stabenow of Minneapolis, and Timothy Heid of Arlington, TX; as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Larry Hess.
Barbara was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and sister - and friend to many around the world.
Barbara led an adventurous and fun-filled life. Born February 20, 1939, she grew up on a farm outside Archie, MO, where she lived with her mother, Dorothy May Hess, father, Joseph Henry Hess and six siblings. Barbara fondly remembered the many trips her family took out west and to the Rio Grande Valley.
Barbara was an avid basketball player at Archie High School, where she graduated in 1957. On July 14, 1957, she married Walter George Heid, Jr., of Harrisonville. She attended the University of Missouri in Columbia before the couple and their first born, daughter Leiann, moved to Washington, D.C., in 1960. There, Elizabeth Jane and George Lewis were born. Barbara focused on raising her children and manually typing Walter's PhD dissertation with seven carbon copies on a manual typewriter. The family moved to Bozeman, Montana in 1967, where the family took up downhill skiing, hiking, rock hunting and camping. Barbara was a frequent volunteer at the local hospital and a 4-H leader.
In 1975, the family made another move to St. George, Kansas, where their focus changed to sporting events and horse competitions, and managing a Christmas tree farm. Barbara was an active member of Extension Homemakers Unit and taught some of the early microwave cooking classes for the community. Barbara returned to college along with her children and, after 30 years, proudly earned her bachelor's degree in Home Economics from Kansas State University in Manhattan. She then worked for Waddell & Reed Financial Service, providing financial planning.
In 1987, Barbara and Walter accepted an overseas employment opportunity with USAID in Kenya, Africa. Barbara helped many of the locals with their personal needs, bringing them supplies, accompanying them to medical appointments and inspiring their lives. They returned to Harrisonville in 1991 to assist their parents in their final years. Barbara and Walter moved to Donna, Texas, in the Rio Grande Valley in 1993 where they immersed themselves in cultural events, nature and volunteerism.
Barbara spent much of her time in the Rio Grande Valley giving back to the community. She and Walter were faithful volunteers at the Weslaco Chamber of Commerce for 20 years; they also volunteered at Estero Llano Grande State Park, Frontera Audubon, Valley Nature Center, the Scenic Wetlands in Edinburg, the Weslaco Museum and the Weslaco Public Library.
Barbara and Walter moved back to Lee's Summit in March 2012 and celebrated 55 years of love and friendship. They enjoyed many adventures, traveling to all 50 states, and more than 70 countries in six continents. They have taken their children and grandchildren on several adventures and made many friends along the way. Barbara enjoyed bird watching with Walter, from their back yard to birding trips in the tropics. They volunteered many summers in national parks, forests and wildlife refuges, including the states of Alaska, Minnesota, Maine, Arizona and Colorado.
Barbara is survived by her husband, Walter; siblings, Joseph Hess (Jeanette) of Iola, KS, Jerry Hess (Betty) of Clanton, AL, Garvey Hess (Janice) of Stephenville, TX, Janice Strawbridge of Archie, MO, and Glenn Hess (Claudine) of Adrian, MO; sister-in-law Reba Hess of Laurel, MS; three children, Leiann Nelson (Steve) of Harrisonville, Elizabeth Stabenow (Earl) of Moorhead, MN, and George Heid (Holly) of Arlington, TX; five grandchildren, Wade Nelson (Ivy) of Monett, MO, Craig Nelson (Lindsay) of Blue Springs, MO, Jennifer Stabenow of New Hope, MN, Kimberly Stabenow of Minneapolis, and Timothy Heid of Arlington, TX; as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Larry Hess.
Barbara was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and sister - and friend to many around the world.
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