Marilyn Stayner Heitzman

Marilyn Lenore Stayner Heitzman, 98, passed away peacefully on August 5, 2025. She was born September 25, 1926 to Lenore Reid Stayner and Max Lewis Stayner in Salt Lake City, Utah. She grew up and attended schools in Salt Lake City, Wasatch Elementary School and East High School, the same schools her father attended when he was young. Marilyn graduated from the University of Utah with a Bachelor of Arts Degree and was a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority. While she was in college, she met her beloved Mearle Heitzman. He had just returned to college after serving four years in the United States Air Force during World War II. They were married in 1949 and immediately moved to Tulare, California. Mearle worked and learned the restaurant business at “Nielsen’s Creamery and Restaurant”.

They lived in Tulare for twelve years and then moved to Visalia, where they bought the restaurant that became Mearle’s Drive-In, at 604 S. Mooney Blvd. Marilyn’s contribution to the drive-in was taking care of the accounting. Her first objective in life was raising their three daughters, Rosalie, Shelley and Amy. All three of their daughters worked when they were old enough at Mearle’s Drive-In during summer vacations. Mearle operated the drive-in for thirty-five years.

Marilyn enjoyed sewing for her daughters, traveling with her family and playing bridge with friends. She also enjoyed belonging to various women’s organizations. American Association of University Women, Tulare County Symphony League, Kaweah Delta Health Care District Guild, Tulare County Panhellenic (where she was woman of the year in 1989). She had memberships in each of these organizations for over 50 years.

Marilyn felt blessed to have a very happy life, living her early years in Salt Lake City, Utah, with her parents and brothers, Reid and Bob. Her wonderful life continued with her marriage to Mearle. Twelve years were spent in Tulare, where all three of their daughters were born, Rosalie, Shelley and Amy. Fifty- eight years were spent in Visalia, California. Visalia couldn’t have been a better place to spend most of her life, as Visalia and the people of Visalia were wonderful to Marilyn, Mearle, their family and Mearle’s Drive-In.

The greatest joy in Marilyn’s life was the time spent with her family. Marilyn and Mearle were married for 67 years. Her husband Mearle died in 2016. Marilyn is survived by her three daughters, Rosalie H. Holland, husband Richard (Rick) W. Holland (Maui, Hawaii), Shelley S. Heitzman (Visalia, California), Amy H. West and her husband David A. West (Parker, Colorado & La Quinta, California), two grandson’s Richard (Ricky) W. Holland, wife Carol and son Conrad (Maui, Hawaii), Rhett H. Holland and wife Kara (Sparta, Tennessee). Marilyn also has a brother, Robert L. Stayner and his wife Tanya (Salt Lake City, Utah), and nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and brother Reid Lewis Stayner.

There will be a private family graveside service. In lieu of flowers, condolences may be sent in memory of Marilyn Heitzman to Kaweah Health Foundation at www.kaweahdeltahospitalfoundation-bloom.kindful.com or your favorite charity.