Mary "Jody" Josephine Heiman

Mary, known to all her family and friends as Jody, was born May 1, 1931, in Huron, South Dakota to Carl J. Junker and Ruth (Ullyot) Junker. While still a child, Jody moved with her parents and sisters, Catherine and Dorothy, to Kansas City, Missouri where her father Carl worked as an executive for Standard Oil. After high school graduation in 1949, Jody attended St. Theresa’s College in Kansas City and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Education. While still an under-graduate student at St. Theresa’s, Jody met an undergrad at Rockhurst College, Vern Heiman. Jody and Vern Married on August 30, 1952, and both graduated in 1953. Jody and Vern moved to Kansas City, Kansas where the new family was joined in 1954 by Alan and in 1955 by Dale. In 1957, The family moved to Topeka, Kansas. There LaVerne (Tammy) was born in 1958, Laura in 1959 and Lisa in 1962. In 1962, the family moved to Seneca, Kansas where Vern was the International Harvester Dealer and Jody ran a large home with 5 growing children, volunteering in her children’s schools, the Catholic Church and community. She also had time to take up bowling and become a certified lifeguard. In 1971 the family moved to Portland, Oregon where Jody met many new friends and engaged in making costumes for the local high school plays, golf and volunteering for Tucker Maxon Oral School while still raising her family. In 1984 Jody and Vern bought a home in Sun Lakes, Arizona now becoming snowbirds. In 1990 they built a home and moved to San Juan Island, WA., where they enjoyed sponsoring various artists who became lifelong friends. Jody and Vern sold the San Juan home and built her dream house in Sisters, Oregon in 2000. Still “flying south” for the winter, Jody became very involved in St. Edward the Martyr Catholic Church in Sisters where she was an active member in the altar society, making quilts for children in hospitals and various fund raisers. She spent the winters in Sun Lakes AZ where she played golf and bridge. In 2023 Jody moved to a retirement facility in Vancouver, WA where she was closer to her children.

Jody was preceded in death by her parents and sisters, as well as husband Vern in 2020. She is survived by her five children, Alan Joseph (Colette) Heiman, Dale Francis Heiman, LaVerne Mary (Randy) Layton, Laura Jean (Brad) King and Lisa Ann (Geno) Walter. Jody has nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Services are pending. Jody will be buried with Vern in St. Winefride’s Garden at St. Edward the Martyr Catholic Church in Sisters, Oregon.

Memorial donations can be made to St. Winefride’s Garden at St. Edward the Martyr Catholic Church (P.O. Box 489, 123 Trinity Way, Sisters, OR 97759), or the charity of your choice.