Noah "Red" M. Hefner, 85, passed away early Thursday morning, July 17, 2014 at 12:15 a.m. in Yuma, AZ due to congestive heart failure. Noah was born September 11, 1928 in Pontiac, Michigan to Geneva Julia Pointer Hefner and Henry Monroe Hefner. He was raised in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. He was a member of the Boy Scouts of America and achieved the Eagle Badge to include the Bronze Palm. He also received the God and Country Award and the Order of the Eagles Award. Noah joined the U.S. Army in 1946 and retired as a Master Sergeant in 1968 after doing a tour in Vietnam as an Army Engineer. While in the Army, he received the following awards: National Defense Service Medal, NDSM Oak Leaf Cluster, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Counter Offensive Award, Bronze Star Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal Oak Leaf Cluster. He worked at O'Malley's Building Material as a Store Manager and later hired as a General Manager for Southwest Lumber. He became a Private Contractor and supervised the construction of Immaculate Conception School and St. Anne's Hall. Noah also worked as a Private Architect for Rodriguez Construction and Gus Kirk Cabinets. He was a Co-Director for two years in Brawley, CA, with his wife, of a drug rehab program called Catholic Rainbow Outreach.
Noah was a Catholic Lay Evangelist with Charlie Osborn Good News Ministry and traveled all over the United States. He was a Cursillista since 1983. He was part of the St. Francis Church Charismatic prayer group for many years. For the last two years, he was very well known at YRMC and nursing homes by many nurses and doctors as being that patient that sang the "Ave Maria." He cantered the Saturday Mass and sang in the choir at I.C. church for over 30 years. He was a 4th degree Knight in the Knights of Columbus. He was a lifetime member of the American Legion Post 19 and the Department of Veteran Affairs. His life was dedicated to the Lord Jesus Christ and his wife, daughter, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.
Noah is survived by his wife of 66 years, Petra G. Hefner; daughter, Deborah (Robert) Aguilar; grandchildren, Adrienne (Marco) Navarro, Robyn (Mohamed Nur) Aguilar, and Jesus Roberto (Mely) Aguilar Jr.; great grandchildren, Cassandra, Vanessa, Anthony, Gregory, Jacob, Julius, and Carlos; brother, James (Kathy) Hefner, sisters, Linda (Ed) Miknaitis, Frida (Ted) Dezutter, and Julia (Lonie) Rogers; and numerous cousins, nephews, and nieces. He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry Monroe Hefner and Geneva Julia Pointer Hefner; sisters, Virginia Kiggins and Dorothy Dunn.
Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 22, 2014 with a Rosary at 7:00 p.m. at Immaculate Conception Church, 505 S. Avenue B, Yuma. Mass will be held at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 23, 2014 at Immaculate Conception Church with Graveside Service to follow at Desert Lawn Memorial Park in the Field of Honor.
Pallbearers: Jesus Roberto Aguilar Jr., Marco Navarro, Greg Derma, Mohamed Nur, Michael Salas, Julian Gonzales. Honorary Pallbearers: Robert Aguilar, Johnny Salas, Fernando Salas, Dan Modeen.
Arrangements under the direction of Johnson Mortuary & Desert Lawn Memorial Park, Yuma, AZ.
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