Mildred Lucille (Southard) Heeren

Mildred “Millie” Lucille Heeren, 92, a long-time resident of Sierra Vista, passed away on September 25, 2019, at her home in Golden Acres. She was 92 years old.

A funeral mass will be held at Our Lady of the Mountains Catholic Church on Saturday, October 12, 2019, at 10:00 a.m.

Millie was born July 17, 1927, in Polo, Illinois, to Eber Cloyd and Ona Marie (Burgess) Southard. She married Francis “Bud” Heeren on November 23, 1946. They made their first home in Deer Grove, Illinois, where they lived until moving to Sierra Vista in the summer of 1972.

While her most important job was as a wife and mother, Millie also worked at several jobs outside the home over the years including Grants Department Store, Pueblo Del Sol Golf Course, and Subway.

Millie was an active member of Our Lady of the Mountains Catholic Church since the days the church met in the Golden Acres Club House. She was known as the “Energizer Bunny” by the Social Concerns Committee. Whether it was cleaning up after events, collecting unsold baked goods for the Forgach House and the Ethel Berger Center, being the official Social Concerns hugger, or assisting with religious education classes, Millie was always ready to lend a helping hand. She was named Ministry Volunteer of the Year for 2004-2005.

Millie is survived by her husband, Bud; daughters, Nancy Kline, Mary Dudek, Ann Heeren, Maggie Seddell (David), and Christina Maloof (Christopher); daughters-in-law, Marie Heeren and Doris Jacobsen; 20 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and one great, great-grandchild.

She was preceded in death by children Mike, Joe, and Joan; five grandchildren; her parents; and siblings, Gene, Cloyd, and Helen.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mildred Lucille (Southard) Heeren, please visit our floral store.