Charles Monroe (Charlie) Heard

Charles Monroe Heard ("Charlie") was born December 3, 1924, in Wetumka, Oklahoma. He died in Austin, Texas, on April 14, 2015, preceded in death by his wife, Althea Heard, his son, Mark, his parents Grace and Elmer Heard, and his brothers, Elmer and John. Charlie is survived by Mary Ann Grance and his children, Lynne H. Williams (husband John), Stephen Ortman Heard, and David Frank Heard (wife Martha Adams), his grandchildren, Blaine Williams, Elizabeth W. Crawley (husband Rob), Kelly and Mark Heard, Rachel and Alex Adams-Heard, his great grandson, Robert Cooper Crawley, and his brother James Heard (wife Joyce and their family), his sisters-in-law, Charlotte Heard and Anita Becker (and their families). Charlie's children wish to express their great appreciation for the dedication, support and love shown to Charlie by the associates at Casa Mesquite, Palmetto Place, and Longhorn Village.

Charlie graduated from the University of Oklahoma (with a B.S. in Petroleum Engineering). He was a talented and well liked college athlete, lettering in track and football. During college Charlie was in the Navy V-12 officers' training program and served in China as WWII was winding down. It was at O.U. that Charlie and Thea met and fell in love. They later married and spent over 65 wonderful years together raising a family, putting down roots and making many friends in each city where they lived. Charlie had a successful career with Union Texas Petroleum Company rising to the position of Vice President of Domestic Production. When Charlie retired, he and Thea moved to the beautiful Ozarks community of Bull Shoals, Arkansas where he so enjoyed spending time studying the great philosophers, writing his memoirs and short stories, playing gentleman farmer (in his newly acquired bull dozer and tractor), clearing and planting trees on some land he had acquired, playing tennis, participating in the Senior Olympics, being an active volunteer in the community and serving on various city committees. Charlie and Thea enjoyed their retirement years immensely including extensive travel throughout the world, boating adventures on Lake Bull Shoals and plenty of quality time with family and friends. They moved to Austin in 2003 where Charlie's friendliness and zest for life enabled him to quickly become an avid Austinite. Among Charlie's many wonderful traits were his genuine interest in and his kindness and caring for others – all of which led to his tireless participation in the Open Door Ministry (through University United Methodist Church) which serves the homeless and others in need.

After Thea's death in 2012, it was Charlie's great fortune to meet another wonderful woman - Mary Ann Grance. Their love for and dedication to each other have been an inspiration to their families and friends and a source of joy for Charlie and Mary Ann. A celebration of Charlie's well lived life will be held on Saturday, May 30, at 4:00 p.m. in the Forty Acres room at Longhorn Village (12501 Longhorn Parkway, Austin, TX). A memorial service will also be held next fall at Walnut Hill Cemetery in Cotter, Arkansas. Those desiring to make a donation in memory of Charlie might wish to consider University United Methodist Church in Austin, 2409 Guadalupe, Austin, TX 78705 (please designate the Open Door Ministry on the check memo line) or a charity of your choice. Please visit the guest book and online obituary at www.wcfish.com. Please also read the beautiful tribute to Charlie by his good friend, Dorian de Wind, at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dorian-de-wind/on-departed-friends-and-fields-of-poppies_b_7104300.html.

Charlie's memoirs and some of his short stories can be accessed by clicking on the following link: https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0BxFTkHrzzRSkfjVLZUE0bEpNTHdDR3FQX2lqX0RJNjhRXzM4WnNwRUp0b0IzSDVrQUZhNm8&usp=sharing