LeRoy Heater, 83 year old former Vinita resident, passed from this life on Tuesday, November 6, 2012, in Shawnee, Oklahoma. He was born on July 18, 1929 in Great Bend, Kansas to Clarence and Irene Heater. LeRoy was raised in Vinita, where graduated high school. He attended two years of higher education in Miami, Oklahoma. He served two tours of duty in Korea as a member of the Air Force beginning December, 1951, receiving an honorable discharge in December of 1954. He married Delois Taylor in June, 1956. Delois preceded him in death in February of 2000. His favorite pastimes in his younger years were following the rodeo circuit, riding broncos and bulls and calf roping. In later years his pastimes were hunting and fishing. He was a 43 year member of the American Legion and served many years as Rodeo Chairman of the Will Rogers Memorial Rodeo, which is sponsored by the American Legion post in Vinita. He was honored at the Prairie Circuit Rodeo Association finals in 1994 as Rodeo Chairman of the Year. He was self employed as owner of the Heater Construction Company. LeRoy is survived by present wife, Elizabeth (Wiedower) Heater of the home, sons Jerry Heater and wife Linda and Jayson Heater and wife, Lisa, grandson Toby Heater and wife, Buffy, granddaughter Toni Jo Manning and husband Lane, and six great-grandchildren Lauren and Layla Manning and Zella, Elsa, Clara and Willa Heater. LeRoy was preceded in death by former wife Delois, daughter Pamela Gardner, parents Clarence and Irene Heater, sisters Love Vanna Wiedower and LaRaine Sherwood. Visitation will be held from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., Friday, November 9, 2012 at the Luginbuel Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, November 10, 2012 at the Luginbuel Funeral Home Chapel with Reverend Joanne Wright of St. John Episcopal Church officiating. LeRoy will be laid to rest in the Fairview Cemetery in Vinita, Oklahoma. Friends and family may leave online condolences by viewing LeRoy's obituary at www.honroingmemories.com.
Visitation Details
Friday, November 9th, 2012 6:00pm - 8:00pm, Luginbuel Funeral Home
Service Details
Saturday, November 10th, 2012 2:00pm, Luginbuel Funeral Home
Interment Details
Fairview Cemetery - Vinita