Harold Duane Heflin, 78, of Holt, Mo., passed away January 9, 2020 in North Kansas City, Missouri.
Harold was born March 1, 1941 in Parnell, Mo., to William “Earl” Jr. and Cleta (Stuart) Heflin. Harold graduated in 1959 from Graham High School in Graham, Mo. He went on to enlist in the Army where he was based out of Fort Leonard Wood. While serving, he met his wife of 58 years, Glenda Sue Cutbirth, on a blind date. They were married on October 14, 1961. After his service, they made their home in the Kearney area where they raised and dedicated their lives to their only daughter, Tonya.
Harold made his career in trucking and became the second driver to be hired by Material Transport. He went on to become the Superintendent, and at the time of his retirement, he was their Manager of Trucking. After retirement, he was not one to sit at home, so in 2006, he began his second career as a school bus driver for Durham School Services, driving bus #7 for the Kearney School District.
Harold was known by many to always be there to lend a hand. If you were a neighbor, you might see him coming in his bright orange Kubota tractor to pull you out of a ditch or blade your driveway. His selflessness was like no other. Harold’s most rewarding job was his family. He was a mentor to his son-in-law, Travis, and his grandsons, Cody and Collin and was known to many as “Pa,” regardless if you were blood family or not.
Harold was preceded in death by his parents, William “Earl” Jr. and Cleta Heflin and sisister-in-law, Donna Cutbirth.
Harold is survived by his wife, Glenda (Cutbirth) Heflin; daughter, Tonya Sumption (Travis); grandsons, Cody and Collin Sumption and great grandson, Max Sumption; two brothers, Edwin Heflin (Nancy) of Janesville, Wisc., and Leland Heflin (Barb) of Bloomington, Ind.; one sister, Iretha Heflin Spinetti (Robert) of Kingwood, Texas; two brothers-in-law, Tom Cutbirth (Linda) of Crane, Mo., and Daniel Cutbirth of Independence, Mo., and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, January 14, 2020 at Church of the Annunciation, Kearney, Mo. Funeral Mass will be 10 a.m., Wednesday, January 15, 2020, followed by burial at Antioch Cemetery, Holt, Mo. In lieu of flowers the family suggest memorial contributions to Northcare Hospice House.
Arrangements in care of Fry-Bross & Spidle Funeral Home, Kearney.
Our Sincere Condolences
Harold will be missed by many. Harold was a good friend to my parents and a good mentor to Curtis. May God bless you all.
Pam Schleif
My deepest sympathy to all the family! Harold was my dad’s neighbor and was always blading his drive, watching out for my dad and his house and always a kind neighbor! RIP Harold and Thank You!
Brenda Kemper
I met Harold while he was dating Glenda and I was dating Glenda’s cousin, now my wife.
I wish that I had known him better, as we had little contact later in life.
I wish Glenda and the rest of the family the best in the years to come and I know that Harold will be missed every day.
Claude Biffle
My family and I knew Harold as our favorite bus driver…..bus #7. He became our bus driver when my oldest started 1st grade, she’s in 10th grade now! Then we filled his bus with 2 more of our kids. For them Harold has been their only bus driver. My husband and I always knew our kids were safe on Harold’s bus. There was one day he was bringing the kids home and the roads were turning slick quickly. He had the remaining kids sit in the back of the bus to shift the weight and they arrived home safely. They still talk about that drive home. Harold knew our crazy schedules and some days I struggled to race the bus home. If I wasn’t parked at the end of the driveway waiting to get the kids off the bus he was looking in his review mirror waiting for my car to come over the hill. Harold didn’t just look out for the kids but he often helped out the parents too! What a brave man he was to drive until he just couldn’t. We know how lucky we were to have Harold as our bus driver. I still look for his sideways wave he’d give as he drove off.
Barb Seeley
Everyone who crossed paths with Harold intuitively knew he was a throwback….a strong, good man who held on to his beliefs his whole life, no matter what….a life well lived indeed. Glenda, Tonya, I know neither of you wanted the song to end. And though I can’t prove it, I truly believe the singer lives on.
Much love, Daniel
Mrs. Heflin & Family,
We are deeply sorrowed today to learn from our neighbor of Harold’s passing. For years he was our friend & “go to guy” for tractor work & mowing. He was always so kind & humble. But he was so amazing the way he could move dirt, gravel or snow. Cindy being a nurse had to go to work early. So he took care of us1st in the neighborhood. It was so comforting early on a snowy morning to hear Harold on his orange tractor doing his magic to our drive-way. So we could safely drive up it. He became known to our kids & family with the description ” Harold is the man!” I will always cherish our talks from the mower or tractor seat. He would turn it off & we would chat. Or I would drop by the house to give him a check , I always enjoyed talking with Harold & gained much practical advice. Every time I start my diesel truck on a cold morning I think of my friend Harold who shared with me a tip on getting it started.
I was always so impressed the way Harold passed on work & life skills to his Grandsons. We talked about you a great deal. He was so proud of you. You are truly blessed to have had a Grandfather like Harold for as many years as you did. He was a wonderful man.
I regret not knowing he was not well I would have visited him in the hospital. But I feel fortunate to have known him. Your family are in our thoughts & prayers at this time. May God Bless you.
John & Cindy Hess
