Elizabeth Ann Heide

After a courageous 17-month battle with pancreatic cancer, Elizabeth Ann Heide joined the choir of angels in heaven on October 7, 2025. She is survived by her daughters, Krista M. Heide and Kala M. Heide, both of Austin, TX; sister and brother-in law Brian and Letha Peters of Buda, TX; brother in-law Peter J. Heide of Lacey, WA; sister-in-law Margaret Heide of Tucson, AZ; and an extended family of nieces, great-nieces and nephews and cousins. She is preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, LTC John W. Heide, parents Col. Melvin L. McCoy and Elizabeth J. McCoy and in-laws John J. Heide and Marguerite A. Heide.

Born in 1943 in Port Arthur, TX, Elizabeth went by many names…daughter, sister, wife, mom, sister-in-law, aunt, friend, best friend, teacher, caretaker, volunteer, and “Mama Bear”. She was our families strongest advocate, our shining example of empathy, grace, selflessness, steadfastness, and our very own angel here on earth. She attended Texas Western University before graduating, later in life, from the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor of Arts in Education. In 1963, she married the love of her life, John W. Heide, thus beginning the journey of a lifetime that spanned many states and three continents.

After 19 years serving our country as a military spouse and full-time mom to two on-the-go daughters, she began her career as a kindergarten teacher in 1982, educating young minds, often in underserved communities, until her retirement in 2003. She loved being in the classroom and watching her students eyes light up as they learned new things. Teaching was in her blood.

Upon retiring, she took on the role of caretaker for both her aging mother and her husband, John who had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s and would succumb to the disease in 2020.

In 2021, she felt called to further dedicate her life to servitude, after watching the Afghan airlift in Kabul. She knew the families that were being relocated to El Paso, would be entering a whole new world, so she began her “second career” as a full-time volunteer for the Armed Forces YMCA in El Paso helping them transition to life in the United States. Once this role was completed she felt called to continue her volunteerism at the Junior Enlisted Family Center – Food Market and Thrift Store, where she was recognized as an Outstanding Ambassador Volunteer in 2023. However, she did not serve our troops and community for the recognition, she did it because it was the right thing to do and brought her a greater sense of giving back to community. She also faithfully served Fort Bliss Chapel One as a member of the parish council and sang every Sunday in the choir.

She taught us grace, humility, and the importance of serving. She taught us that our most valuable asset was giving time to others. She gave us a powerful sense of love of family. She taught us always do what is right, even if it was not popular. She and John took us on worldly adventures and asked us to embrace them with wonder. She gave us a love of music, good conversation, recognizing the good in everyone regardless of their circumstances, and we celebrate her and John’s love of the US Air Force Academy, the World Champion Boston Red Sox, all things Texas, and travel. She never let a person walk away without learning their story and history. A piece of her lives on in each of us and we will miss her dearly! She now with Dad and they both touch the face of God.

Our family would like to express our sincere gratitude to the wonderful caregivers at Home Instead Home Health Services (Austin, TX), the CNA’s and nurses at Summit Hospice (Austin, TX), the oncology staff at Texas Oncology North (Austin, TX), our USAFA family, our Chapel One family and the numerous organizations and lives that Elizabeth touched.

In lieu of flowers the family asks you to please consider a donation in Elizabeth Ann Heide’s memory to the Junior Enlisted Family Center, 2004 Sheridan Rd. Fort Bliss, Texas 79906, El Pasoans Fighting Hunger Food Bank 9541 Plaza Circle, El Paso, 79927 or American Cancer Society, Hope Lodge, PO Box 6704 Hagerstown, MD 21741.

Visitation for Mrs. Heide will be held Monday, November 3, 2025 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM with Funeral Service at 1:00 PM at Funeraria del Angel Restlawn, 8817 Dyer St, El Paso, Texas 79904. Graveside Service will follow at 2:30 PM at Fort Bliss National Cemetery, 5200 Fred Wilson Ave, El Paso, TX 79906.