Obituary for Melissa C. Heilman
Melissa Heilman, age 54, passed away on Sunday, October 30, 2022. Melissa was born in Seymour, Indiana on March, 14 1968 and was raised in Eagle Pass, Texas. She had a bachelor’s degree in education from Stephen F. Austin University in Nacogdoches, Texas. She was an elementary school teacher for half of her career and an office manager at various businesses the other half of her career working both in the aerospace industry and at a mental health practice.
Everyone that knew her knows that she was all about an adventure having traveled the world, living in the Marshall Islands for many years, visiting Hawaii, Cancun, Thailand, Bali, Bangkok, Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, Bahamas, and so many other places. She loved a good road trip visiting almost every state in the continental US and she really loved going on cruises. She had many hobbies: baking, cookie decorating, beadwork weaving, painting, model clay art, pottery, lamp work glass art, quilting, upholstery, and card making. She was also bold and loved to scuba dive everywhere she had the opportunity, sending videos of her shark surroundings to her frightened family. After patiently listening to their concerns, she would say “but the sharks are really nice” to which her twin would respond “yeah until they are not!” She obtained a captain license and could captain a boat up to 40’ long with ease. Sky diving was her once only experience stating that she didn’t feel the flying through the air part of it, she was acutely aware of the fact that she was falling to the earth at an alarming speed.
She had a large family and many friends who love her very much and she loved them just the same. She will be greatly missed, and the world is a slightly darker place without her in it. She is survived by her son Raul Herrera Jr, his wife Kelsie and the light of her life granddaughters Chloe and Mia, her twin sister Melinda Schultz, brother-in-law Hans Schultz, godson nephew David Joshua Samaniego, his wife Olivia Samaniego and grandnephew David Samaniego Jr, niece Priscilla Collett Cochran and her husband Eric Cochran, brother Danny Heilman, sister friend Laura Gonzalez, mother Mary Fowler and father David Heilman.
Melissa did not believe in funerals or services preferring rather to be celebrated with the good memories each person had of her. She would say “that’s where the love is.” In honor of her wishes, Melissa’s Celebration of Life will be private.
Everyone that knew her knows that she was all about an adventure having traveled the world, living in the Marshall Islands for many years, visiting Hawaii, Cancun, Thailand, Bali, Bangkok, Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, Bahamas, and so many other places. She loved a good road trip visiting almost every state in the continental US and she really loved going on cruises. She had many hobbies: baking, cookie decorating, beadwork weaving, painting, model clay art, pottery, lamp work glass art, quilting, upholstery, and card making. She was also bold and loved to scuba dive everywhere she had the opportunity, sending videos of her shark surroundings to her frightened family. After patiently listening to their concerns, she would say “but the sharks are really nice” to which her twin would respond “yeah until they are not!” She obtained a captain license and could captain a boat up to 40’ long with ease. Sky diving was her once only experience stating that she didn’t feel the flying through the air part of it, she was acutely aware of the fact that she was falling to the earth at an alarming speed.
She had a large family and many friends who love her very much and she loved them just the same. She will be greatly missed, and the world is a slightly darker place without her in it. She is survived by her son Raul Herrera Jr, his wife Kelsie and the light of her life granddaughters Chloe and Mia, her twin sister Melinda Schultz, brother-in-law Hans Schultz, godson nephew David Joshua Samaniego, his wife Olivia Samaniego and grandnephew David Samaniego Jr, niece Priscilla Collett Cochran and her husband Eric Cochran, brother Danny Heilman, sister friend Laura Gonzalez, mother Mary Fowler and father David Heilman.
Melissa did not believe in funerals or services preferring rather to be celebrated with the good memories each person had of her. She would say “that’s where the love is.” In honor of her wishes, Melissa’s Celebration of Life will be private.