Born Aug. 5, 1927, near Seymour Cyrus “Puss” Eugene Heckendorn, son of Claude George and Artie Mae (Matney) Heckendorn, was born Aug. 5, 1927, near Seymour, and departed this life Friday, July 21, 2006, in Harry S. Truman Memorial Veteran’s Hospital in Columbia, at the age of 78.
On Oct. 24, 1952 he was united in marriage to Sybil Lee Everett, and to this union a son and a daughter were born.
He was preceded in death by his parents and three brothers, Richard Heckendorn, John Heckendorn, and Jack Heckendorn.
“Puss” is survived by his loving wife of almost 54 years, Sybil, of the home; a son, Richard Keith Heckendorn, and his wife, Jill, of Ava; a daughter, Vicky Denney, and her husband, Bruce, of Ava; a granddaughter, Kalie McHaffie, and her husband, Cody, of Rogersville; three grandsons, Colby Heckendorn, of Chicago, Ill., Ryan Denney, of Springfield, and Shawn Denney, of Ava; one great-granddaughter, Allison Denney, of Springfield; one brother, Gordon Heckendorn, and his wife, Sue, of Seymour; two sisters, Janie Carpenter, of Seymour, and Clarice Henderson, of Arkansas City, Kan.; a number of nieces and nephews; as well as a host of other relatives and many friends.
He was born and raised in Seymour, and at the age of 16 he joined the United States Army and served his country faithfully during World War II and the Korean War.
Following his time in the service, he and his family moved to the Mansfield area and later returned to Seymour where he owned and operated a farm until his retirement in 1992. He and Sybil moved to Ava in l993 to make their home.
“Puss” had made his profession of faith in Christ and attended the Star Freewill Baptist Church near Seymour in his younger years.
He centered his life around his family and enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren. He enjoyed visiting with his many friends over a cup of coffee at Speedy’s in Seymour and McDonald’s in Ava. He had a passion for playing golf with his brother and friends, and he also liked to play cards and dominoes. He spent much of his spare time mowing and caring for his lawn.
“Puss” was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother and uncle, and was a caring neighbor and friend.
Services were held at 2 p.m., Monday, July 24, in the Seymour First Baptist Church, Seymour Missouri, with the Revs. Bill Salsbery and Gordon Heckendorn, and Colby Heckendorn officiating. Burial with full military honors by Webster County Veterans Memorial Association was in Seymour Masonic Cemetery under the direction of Holman-Howe Funeral Home of Seymour. Memorial contributions may be made to the Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans Hospital in Columbia, in care of the funeral home at P.O. Box 366, Seymour, Missouri.
