Heather was born in Pine Bluff, AR on November 18, 1977, and she spent her childhood living in Little Rock with her father, George Wheeler, and in Baytown, Texas with her mother, Connie Reynolds Napolitano. She shared her childhood with her older brother, Josh Wheeler of Houston, and her younger sister, Bristol Samples of Austin. Heather often fondly told friends how she grew up on the back of her dad’s Harley, and her lifelong love of tubing rivers and spending time outdoors started with her childhood among the bluffs and woods of Arkansas. She spent most of her childhood in Baytown Texas where she was a Brigadier, successful student and popular friend at Robert E Lee High School. Heather’s house was the gathering place for all her teenage friends, and her mother Connie welcomed them all home. After graduating from Lee in 1996, Heather lived in Houston then went on to pursue and earn an Interior Design degree at the Art Institute of Las Vegas before her love of live music and outdoor beauty caused her and her daughter, Cara Roberds, to settle in Austin, Texas where her mom and sister soon followed. The love of Heather’s life was her daughter, Cara, who inherited her moms fiery spirit and beautiful smile.
Heather was a strong, fiery, thoughtful woman that had many friends that adored her for her bright and mischievous smile and her love of life. Aside from frequently wearing cowboy hats, jeweled tiaras, and silly colorful fedoras, Heather also wore many hats among the people she loved. She was a mother, daughter, sister, friend, lover, confidant, colleague, cousin, and with each hat came a special bond that only that person shared with Heather. She was incapable of half measures, and she loved the people in her life with the full passion of her heart.
Heather had outlets for her creativity. She loved her job as an interior design consultant. Tuesday night one would always find Heather at the Rattle Inn listening to her friends play music. She also loved to sing and dance, and live music lovers across Austin noticed the mischievous sparkle in her eye that made it seem that she was always up to some shenanigans. Heather had zest for life that was infectious to all around her.
Heather is survived by many people that loved her deeply, and their lives will be forever altered without the shining star that was Heather.
In lieu of flower, donations may be made to Austin Pets Alive 1156 W Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX, US, 78703
A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, June 18, 2014 from 7:00 pm until 9:00pm in the evening at Cook Walden Funeral Home, 6100 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX. Condolences may be sent to www.cookwaldenfuneralhome.com.
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