Robert W. Heffer

Robert Warren Heffer was born on May 28, 1937 in Coalport, PA to Reverend Wilmer Heffer and Dorothy Meyer Heffer. As a young boy, Bob also lived in Ellwood City, PA, and Corey, PA, where his father pastored Christian and Missionary Alliance churches. The family moved in 1952 for Reverend Heffer to pastor the First Alliance Church of Houston, TX. Bob graduated from Lanier Junior High School and San Jacinto High School, both in Houston, and attended two years at Nyack Missionary College in Nyack, NY. Bob married Janice Aunspaugh Heffer Wright on August 2, 1957 and held jobs in Nyack, Fort Worth, TX, and North Caldwell, NJ. Bob and his young family moved back to Houston in 1961, where he lived, except for two years in Beaumont, TX, until his death at home, at age 81 years, on August 3, 2018.

Bob married Vicki Long McKee Heffer on July 3, 1974. During his career, Bob earned a living and excelled in his managerial positions at businesses, such as Parker Uniforms, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, and MetLife Health Network, until he retired in 2004. In recent years, Bob was a member of Sharpstown Baptist Church and the Emmanuel Bible Study class.

Family who preceded Bob in death include his father, Wilmer Heffer, mother, Dorothy Heffer Grosse, sister, Ruth Heffer Stecher, and brother-in-law, Charles Howard Stecher. Family surviving Bob include his wife Vicki Long McKee Heffer, sister, Sharlotte Heffer Jackson, and brother-in-law, Melvyn Leroy Jackson, son, Robert Warren Heffer, Jr., and daughter-in-law, Lisa Gerdes Heffer, daughter, Tamara Heffer Gilmore, and son-in-law, David Leonard Gilmore, son, Timothy David Heffer, and daughter-in-law, Margaret Gebhardt Heffer, son, Jonathan Charles Heffer, and daughter-in-law, Lori Schut Heffer, and step-son, Gene William McKee, and step-daughter-in-law, Jana Johnson McKee. Bob’s grandchildren include Matthew David Gilmore, Rachael Heffer Reynolds, Megan Marie Gilmore, Joshua Paul Heffer, Michael Aaron Gilmore, Cody Jay Heffer, Paige Julianne Heffer, Tyler Graham Heffer, and Cole Ryan Heffer, and step grandchild, Joshua Lee McKee. Bob’s grandchildren-in-law include Brittany Freeth Gilmore, Timothy Ashton Reynolds, Karen Becker Heffer, Jenn Passet Heffer, and Sadie Farison Gilmore, and step grandchild-in-law, Sharon Walsh McKee. Bob’s great grandchildren include Ellasyn Victoria Reynolds, Brighton Timothy Warren Reynolds, Joy Noelle Heffer, Calvin James Heffer, and three soon-to-be-born lives, and step great grandchild, Aidan Christian McKee. Many grandparents, uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives are connected to Bob as a blessed extended family.

Each person experienced unique aspects of Bob in their interactions with him. Common themes, however, included Bob’s integrity, tenacity, determination, work ethic, humor, faith in Jesus Christ as his Savior, commitment to his church, wise counsel, care for others for whom he had responsibility, enjoyment in a shared meal, loyalty to his friends, and tremendous love for his family. Bob’s family knows that the sting of his physical death has been transformed into victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1st Corinthians 15:55-57). We look forward, in hopeful expectation, to the day when we can share a smile and a laugh again with Bob.

Interment will occur in a private service with only family in attendance at Forest Park Westheimer Cemetery (12800 Westheimer Rd., Houston, TX 77077; 281-497-2330). Family and friends are invited to celebrate Bob’s life on earth and now in “glory” at a Memorial Reception in the West Wing fellowship room at Sharpstown Baptist Church (7000 Bellaire Blvd., Houston, TX 77074; 713-774-9673) at 12:30 PM on Wednesday, August 8, 2018. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Bob’s name may be made to Sharpstown Baptist Church (http://www.sharpchurch.org/OnlineGiving) or the Christian and Missionary Alliance (https://secure.cmalliance.org/give).