Kevin Heaton obituary

Kevin Heaton, 47

Kevin Lee Heaton was born to William & Dixie Heaton on November 4, 1965 in Des Moines, Iowa. Kevin went to be with our Lord on Tuesday, September 10, 2013 at his home peacefully with his family at his side. Kevin fought a strong battle against Pancreatic Cancer. He woke up each day with hope and determination that his family would live a normal life one day at a time. This disease would not take over their lives!!! Kevin and his sister; Billie Jo were raised in Mercer, Missouri and Wedowee, Alabama. Kevin enjoyed playing football as a child and his adventures with the Boy Scouts. He also liked finding old baseball cards and collecting the important ones. In high school he found a home in the art department and had a natural talent for it. He later went back to school and attained his Associates Degree in General Students from Columbia College. He continued his education through working and chemotherapy treatments to complete his Bachelor of Science Degree; unfortunately he was just shy of completing that goal.

He proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy for 20 years and then retired in 2005. Since he was young and still had children at home, playing golf everyday was not an option so he began his second career as civilian contractor for the U.S. Navy. Kevin served as Petty Officer First Class Aviation Ordinance. For the past 7 years he worked with URS. He was an "Ordie" through and through, though he was frustrated at times, he loved every minute of it, and cherished the friends he made around the world. Kevin was a steward and member of the local Teamsters Union for URS. His career in the Navy took him too many places including; NAS Oceana, VA, NAS Cecil Field, FL, NS Mayport, FL, NAS Patuxent River, MD, and finally NAS Lemoore, CA. Many shipmates touched his life and became true friends including; James Willett, Chris Chalmers, Rashun Taylor and Michael Stellpflug. While in the US Navy he served during the following conflicts; Panama Canal, Desert Storm, Desert Shield, Operation Hope Somalia and Iraqi Freedom.

Kevin truly enjoyed spending time with his family but some of his life's passions were; video games, fishing, football, baseball and of course GOLF. On Saturdays you could find him sitting in his favorite spot, jersey on, Mountain Dew in his hand cheering for the Alabama Crimson Tide Football game. Roll Tide! He loved watching the Jacksonville Jaguars, most of the time they lost but, he always had hope that one day they would find their niche.

Kevin traveled to some amazing countries with the Navy and shared those travels with his kids. He planted his roots in Lemoore where he and his family faithfully attended South Valley Community Church in Lemoore.

A little funny story of how Kevin and his wife; Laurie met. They met in a bar, where she had asked him to dance and he answered NO, shocking but he did. They sat and talked and then he left with his friend. About an hour later he came back, and they've been together ever since! Fate stepped in that day and made sure they met each other. They we were married on October 6, 1990 at the NAS Cecil Field Chapel in Jacksonville, FL. A funny thing is fate stepped in again, because their first child was born December 15, 1992, 3 years to the day from when they met.

The years went by and looking back it was a great life, they had personal demons, and challenges of the Navy, and normal ups and downs of marriage but they fought through them every step of the way together as a family.

They were blessed with their second child in 2005, Jacob was their surprise as they were told for years they could not have any more children but obviously God had stepped in. Kevin was beyond excited and he could not wait to see his son, and his son is the spitting image of him.

Kevin would want his children and those he cared about to carry on his legacy; that if you stick with something, anything and everything is possible. People make mistakes, no one is perfect, and life gets hard, but you hold on tight to those you love and the ride will be full off happiness and love.

As Laurie searched through belongings, she found a box; they had kept every letter that they sent to each other through cruises and deployments. In that she found the first letter he ever wrote her on March 11, 1990. They were not yet married, but were making plans to be married when he returned. He said regarding our last day together before he left on cruise, "I had a good time on Sunday, I didn't want to leave, and I hope you had fun to too. I miss you like crazy. I want to know what you did to me. I've never felt like this towards anyone. I love you so very much. I've never even thought about marriage before I met you, you don't have to worry about me, and I could not imagine having a life without you being there. I want to marry you, I want to take care of you, spend my days and nights with you have a family with you, grow old with you. You are all I have ever needed or wanted and I love you with all my heart. I can't wait to see you at the terminal when I get back so we can just get away just the two of us."

He loved his family with all his heart, and always put them first. He made sure his kids had everything in life he didn't have and for them to know every day that he loved them beyond words.

Kevin was preceded in death by his parents. Kevin will be truly missed by all who knew him. He is survived by his wife; Laurie C. Heaton with his two beautiful children; Taylor Heaton and Jacob Heaton all of Hanford, CA. He also leaves behind his dear sister; Billie Jo Heaton and her sweetheart; Kevin Mcaninch of Princeton, MO along with his niece; Leslie Honn and nephews; Steven Honn and Chase Rion.

A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 21, 2013 at South Valley Community Church with U.S. Navy Full Military Funeral Honors; 1050 W. Bush Street, Lemoore, CA 93245.

The family has requested that donations be made in Kevin's name to the family, the funeral home or to the American Cancer Society ; www.cancer.org/donate