Dorothy Lee Heiman

Dorothy Lee was born on April 13, 1942, in Chariton County to J. Pat Rucker and Dorothy Mae (Guilford) Rucker. Dorothy Lee was married right out of high school to her high school sweetheart, William R. Heiman. After moving to Kansas City, she attended Business School where she received an associate degree. Dorothy Lee worked for ATT where she took an early buyout retirement then pursued her own dreams as an entrepreneur in the women's clothing business. She owned and ran up to 3 stores through the course of her business life. Between 1961 and 1966, the couple had two children, Tracy Lee and Tina Marie. The couple later divorced in the 1980’s, and Dorothy moved to Maryland where she worked at Good Morning America and ABC News. She would move back to Kansas City in 1994 to be close to her children and grandchildren.

Dorothy Lee was preceded in death by her father, J. Pat Rucker; her mother, Dorothy Mae Rucker; her brother-in-law, Captain Marion Gesling, USN; and her nephew, Captain Michael Gesling.

She is survived by her children, Tracy Lee Faibian and Tina Marie Absher; her grandchildren, Anthony DeGeorge, Nicole DeGeorge (her husband, Mark Covey), Erin Wooldridge Heiman and Alex Manheim; great grandchildren, Annabella Esry, Emma Stricker and Blair Covey; her siblings, Mary Pat Gesling, John Rucker (wife, Kay Rucker), James Rucker (his wife, Lynn Rucker), Terry Rucker Heishman (her husband, Lonnie Heishman); nephews, Gary Gesling, John H. Rucker, Wesley Piercy; nieces, Maile Gesling, Debbie Rucker, Sherry Rucker and Kim Rucker.

Dorothy was loved and cherished by many. The world will be less bright without her in it.