Walliebloggin': Obituary...Never Liked That Word.

My attempt at what would not fit into the newspaper or take a lottery win to finance. A snippet of background about whom we loved and are missing...Our Miki.

Marsha Lee Heyne was celebrated into this life in St. Louis, Missouri, November 28, 1957. She was the second child and second girl born to Walt and Millie Heyne. After moving to Salisbury, Maryland and Waterville, Maine, her family settled in Rogers, Arkansas.

She had many notable accomplishments growing up, including being a Brownie and a Girl Scout.

Miki graduated from high school in 1976. Her high school years included attending Girl’s State in 1975. She was also named the Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizen of Rogers High School. She played on the Team Flakes basketball team and according to one article, was second highest scorer in a 26-21 win, where she scored 10 points.

Other accolades in high school included being a drum major for the high school marching band for 4 years, member of the Future Business Leaders of America, she was a recipient of the President’s Physical Fitness and Leadership Award, had a Junior Homemaker Degree, and had won medals as a flutist. She was a member of the United Youth Fellowship, Future Homemakers of America, and French Club. I would like to point out (and I've had many belly laughs over) that she was not only a member of the Future Homemakers of America in high school, but was PRESIDENT of it. Did I hit the jackpot or what!?!

After attaining her undergraduate from Southwest Missouri State University and graduate degree from University of Missouri, Columbia, she was hired as a learning disabilities teacher for the Blue Springs School District in 1981. It was here that the magic happened and her calling came to fruition. She loved facilitating the underdog and championing each of her student's cause to be as successful as they could. It was also here that she met her future husband, Wallie Winholtz. Miki and Wallie met at Franklin Smith Elementary as new teachers and it did not take long for them to realize they were good together. They met in August of 1981, moved in together in December, and made it official the day after school was out, May 29, 1982. Besides learning disabilities, she also taught in the regular classroom, spent a year as a STAR teacher for the state, providing professional development, taught education classes and supervised student teachers for Graceland University while on loan from the district, and her last year was at the alternative high school.

Miki was an educator for 29 years before retiring, including being the 1993 Blue Springs School District Teacher of the Year. She did not begin the “good life” upon retiring, just carried it on. She loved her career in education, the students that passed through her classroom, and the parents that made a difference. She stepped away from teaching in 2010 and retired to travel, garden, love on her dogs and husband, put forth more energy towards her Healing Touch practice and ride her Harley. In the years prior to retiring, she worked hard at getting her certification with Healing Touch International. She was certified as a Healing Touch Practitioner in 2010 and enjoyed working with and for her clients, many of whom became friends. She considered it quite an accomplishment.

In 2002, at the age of 45, Marsha legally changed her name to what all of her friends and family had come to know her by for most of her life, Miki. This, along with getting her motorcycle license at age 50, were two of the many milestones in her journey.

In June of this year, Miki was diagnosed with lung cancer. Six months later, her intention to “walk through this” took a wrong turn and the cancer stole her from us six days after her 56^th birthday, December 4, 2013. As I watched her take her last breath through tears of sadness, I celebrated as she was finding out what we all want to know.

Miki will carry with her in her heart her parents of Bella Vista, Arkansas, Walt and Millie Heyne, her sister and family of Kirkwood, Mo, Gail, Rik, and Cait Hafer, and her brother and family of Mt. Pleasant, SC, Marty, Kathleen, Callie and Grace.

She also will carry with her, her sisters in law and their husbands both of Lee’s Summit, Mo, Lynn and John Varvaro, and Alice Winholtz and David Tribble, her sister in law of Morro Bay, Ca, Betty Winholtz, her bother in law, wife, and daughter of Blue Springs, Mo, Willie, Barb, and Kayla Winholtz.

Miki will also carry in her heart, her husband Wallie. Paddling partner, lover, companion, and friend of 32 years. After meeting their first year of teaching, they spent little time apart. He sends her on to her next adventure, as she called it, with much love and anticipation of updates along the way. And of the many pets she loved and cared for over the years, she will carry her dogs Tuck and Tooga with her as well.