Carole Ann “Queenie” Heitz passed away peacefully at home April 10, 2019. A beloved wife, mother, sister, sister-in-law, grandmother, aunt, friend and teacher, she blessed the lives of those who knew her.
Born on June 28, 1941 in Marshfield, Wisconsin, she moved to Oklahoma City with her parents who managed Twin Hills Golf & Country Club for many years.
Carole received her Bachelor of Arts in English from Oklahoma City University in 1963 and her Master of Arts in English from Central State University in 1974. She was a member of Alpha Phi sorority and maintained close friendships with sorority sisters.
She began her teaching career in Amarillo, Texas where she met Air Force officer John Heitz on a blind date. They were married on September 16, 1966. John’s military career took them to California, Florida and Germany and then home to Oklahoma in 1978 where they’ve raised their family and made their home in Edmond. She taught at Edmond Memorial High School as well as Hefner Middle School, The University of Phoenix, DeVry University, Bishop McGuinness High School and Bishop John Carroll School. During her tenure at Memorial High School Carole founded and served as adviser for Ruff Draft, the award-winning Edmond Public High Schools’ newspaper.
Carole’s devotion to her career, her students and fellow educators propelled her to the top of her field. She was an award-winning teacher many times over including the Eloise Rees Writing Mentorship, the Edmond Educational Endowment, was named one of 5-Alive Oklahoma’s Best by KOCO-television and won a prestigious scholarship to study Shakespeare at The Globe Theatre in England. She was also selected for Who’s Who Among American Teachers and Who’s Who of American Women. She impacted countless lives over her long career and many of her students would attest that Carole helped propel them to academic and professional successes.
Carole wrote “I believe this world has a place for every single person. For me, today’s greatest educational challenge lies in helping each student discover that place in which he or she can find success. I want to teach them more than just “stuff”; I want to teach them how to use their minds”. Queenie chose to retire in 2006 and from that day forward devoted her life to taking care of her grandchildren and teaching them that lesson. The love she showed them was returned to her always, every day by her grandchildren next door, Truman and Faye, as she left us little by little with dementia. “Well done good and faithful servants”.
Carole adored her grandchildren beyond measure but the love of her life was her husband John. Together they created a beautiful home full of family, friends, festivities and particularly Christmas cheer. Carole loved decorating, reading, bridge, crossword puzzles, gardening and sewing. Her boundless energy and her cheerful and caring spirit made her a joy to know. She generously shared her time, talents and treasures and had a natural ability to make you feel special.
The care she received from John and Andy, who were there when she needed them most, is truly a reflection of her life of love and caring. “No one has greater love than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends”. She was incredibly blessed by their love.
The family would like to thank Steve Barrett, Adriana Segura and Good Journey Hospice for all their help and kindness.
Queenie is survived by her loving family so blessed by her friendship and devotion; husband John Heitz, sons Michael (Jane) and Andy (Tara), grandchildren Olivia, Max, Truman and Faye Heitz, brother John Atwood (Holly), nieces Stacy Webb and Amy Siegfried, nephews Ryan O’Toole and Patrick Atwood. She is predeceased by her sister Ann O’Toole and their parents, Fidelia and John Atwood.
Memorial gifts may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association of Oklahoma at www.alz.org/oklahoma or the charitable organization of your choice.
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