Jerry Ray Heckman, Sr

Jerry Ray Heckman, Sr, age 70, resident of Pryor, Okla., died Monday, June 2, 2014, at St. John's Medical Center in Tulsa, Okla. He was born on Jan. 1, 1944, in Fort Scott, Kan., the only child of George John Heckman and Mable Anna (Cowan) Heckman. He married Jeanie Ellene (Large) Heckman on Oct. 26, 1961, she survives of the home.

Jerry lived in Fort Scott, until moving to Oklahoma in 1987. He worked as a U.S. Postal Contractor for 41 years prior to his retirement in 2013. Jerry enjoyed fishing with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. His family was most important to him. He will be remembered for his quiet, compassionate, patient, loving, tender hearted, and hardworking personality.

Survivors include his wife Jeanie of the home; two sons, Jerry Ray, Jr. and wife Diana of Fulton, Kan., John Heckman and wife Marla of Verdigris, Okla., two daughters, Carol (Heckman) Allison and husband Tim of Fort Scott, Kan., and Valorie Bertsch and husband Mark of Oolagah, Okla.; 19 grandchildren Opal Shannon, Whitney, Ashley, Jerad, and Jenny Heckman, Roger Rodriquez, Andrea Parsons, Rebecca and husband Brian Williams, Nathan and wife Katie Allison, Ryann Allison, Stephen and Taylor Bertsch, Brecklynn and Madison Simmons, Samantha, Joshua and Anna Heckman, Brittany and husband Tim Carden, Shelby Boyles; and nine great-grandchildren, Addyson and Dexter Williams, Jasper and Korbyn Allison, Bentley Smith and Benton Rodriquez, Timmy, Treyson and Trinity Carden. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Rev. Arthur Large will conduct graveside services at 2 p.m. Thursday, June 5, 2014 at the Large/Pleasantview Cemetery under the direction of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home. The family will receive friends Thursday from noon to 1 p.m. at the funeral home prior to services and will leave for the cemetery at 1:15 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to Care to Share and left in the care of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, 15 W. Wall St, P.O. Box 309, Fort Scott, KS 66701. Condolences may be emailed to expressions@konantz-cheney.com.