Parker Eugene Heikes

Parker Eugene "Gene" Heikes, 94, died Monday, December 21, 2015 at home in Fort Collins, CO, surrounded by family. Gene was born on February 7, 1921, in Great Falls, MT, to Parker and Maude (Brewster) Heikes and grew up on a ranch near Simms, MT. He served in the Navy during World War II aboard the USS Pintado SS-387 submarine as an electronics technician's mate first class in the Pacific Ocean theater. He and his crew received several awards, including a Presidential Unit Citation for extraordinary skill and heroism. He earned a bachelor's and a master's degree at Montana State University, where he also met Marion Watterberg. They were married on September 14, 1946, in Vauxhall, Alberta, Canada. Gene and Marion lived many years in Montana before moving to Fort Collins in 1961. Gene was a professor in the Botany and Plant Pathology Department at Colorado State University and worked for the Colorado Extension Service until he retired in 1984.

Gene was a wonderful husband of 69 years to Marion, and loving father to his children, Kenneth (Beverly) Heikes of Hilo, HI, Lloyd (Stacy) Heikes of Greeley, CO, Nancy (Rob) Butcher of Fort Collins, CO, and Ross (Jenny) Heikes of Fort Collins. He was also a devoted grandfather to Mara, Andrea, Kenny, Andrew, Tom, Katie, Dan, Kevin, Parker, and Indigo, and great-grandfather to Joseph, Helen, and Betty.

Gene was a gifted gardener (no weed was safe) and many peaceful hours were spent enjoying his and Marion's beautiful garden and flowers. He was particularly proud of his roses and the twenty-five blue spruce trees in their yard, some of which were brought from Montana. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

A Celebration of Life will be held on January 9, 2016, at 10:00 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church, 1005 Stover St. in the small chapel. Private interment, Grandview Cemetery.