Marion N. Heikes

Marion (Watterberg) Heikes, 90, died Wednesday, April 6, 2016, in Fort Collins, CO, surrounded by family. Marion was born at home on a farm near Vauxhall, Alberta, Canada on August 27, 1925, to Charles and Mary Watterberg. She attended Montana State University where she studied art. There she met Parker Eugene "Gene" Heikes, and they were married on September 14, 1946 in Vauxhall, Alberta. Gene and Marion lived for many years in Montana before moving to Fort Collins in 1961 where Marion was a homemaker and mother to their four children.

Marion was a wonderful wife of 69 years to Gene, who preceded her in death in December, 2015. She was a devoted and loving mother to Ken (Beverly) Heikes of Hilo, HI, Lloyd (Stacy) Heikes of Greeley, CO, Nancy (Rob) Butcher of Fort Collins, and Ross (Jenny Hand) Heikes of Fort Collins. She delighted in her grandchildren, Mara, Andrea, Kenny, Andrew, Tom, Katie, Dan, Kevin, Parker, and Indigo, and her great-grandchildren, Joseph, Helen, and Betty. She is survived by her bother Bob Watterberg of Calgary, Aberta.

Marion was an avid collector and enjoyed finding treasures at garage and estate sales. She was also a talented gardener and was proud to tour and share her flower gardens with her daylilies and dahlias. Even in her last days she wanted her tulips nearby. Marion never met a stranger, offering a kind word to everyone she met. She was a curious and enthusiastic learner, with an interest in geography that she developed through her extensive travels around the world. She was a very active member of her bridge and mahjong groups and quite skilled with the cards and cribbage. She was a talented artist, painting watercolor pictures and china. She had a wonderful sense of humor and loved hearing and telling jokes. She will be deeply missed by her family and friends.

A Celebration of Life will be held on April 30, 2016 at 10:00am at the First United Methodist Church, 1005 Stover, in the small chapel.