Mary Roseanna Burnett Heavilin, 95, passed away at home, peacefully, in her sleep on Monday, March 10, 2014.
Mary was the fifth child of nine children of Stewart Lester and Rosa Bell Beyers Burnett. She was born May 11, 1918 in Orland, Calif. After Mary was born the family moved to a farm on Miller Island, near Klamath Falls, where Mary grew up. Mary attended school at Midland.
Mary met Oral Ralph Heavilin (Slim) while he was working at a Safeway Store in Klamath Falls. After a short romance and courtship they married on Sept. 12, 1937. The newly weds lived in Klamath Falls where they built their dream home. While living in Klamath Falls they were blessed with three children: Danny, Dolores and Jack.
In 1956 Mary and Oral (Slim) traded their home in Klamath Falls for a ranch on the Westside, near Lakeview, where they raised sheep and cattle. Oral and Mary worked the ranch and also ran the meat department for the Oregon Food Store (Mayfair). Oral was the butcher and Mary worked the counter and wrapped meat.
In 1967 they sold their ranch on Westside and bought a ranch in Fort Rock. Mary and Slim worked side by side on the Fort Rock Ranch (701) raising cattle and growing alfalfa hay.
In her life time, Mary was involved with 4-H, Home extension, PTA and the Cowbells. Mary was a very outgoing, friendly and caring person, and it can be said that she never met a stranger.
Mary was preceded in death by her husband Slim, parents, and five of her brothers and sisters.
Mary is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law: Danny and Pat Heavilin of Arcata, Calif.; Jack and Cheril Heavilin of Fort Rock; and daughter and son-in-law Dolores and Arvid Freiberg of Springfield.
There will be a grave side service held at the Fort Rock Cemetery, Fort Rock on Saturday, April 5, 2014 at 1 p.m.