Lilly Catherine Heflin, of Excelsior Springs, MO, passed away on Tuesday, December 26, 2023. Lilly was born on December 26, 1940 in Broken Arrow, OK, to Harry Leroy and Isabell (Jackson) Smith, who predeceased her.
Lilly was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Jerry; her parents; as well as her daughter, Susan Elizabeth; and brothers, Lee Roy Smith, Paul Smith, Bud (Cleveland) Smith, and Don Smith.
She is survived by son, Roger Heflin and his wife, Sara, of Linwood, KS; son, Richard Heflin and his wife, Kathryn and grandchildren, Brandon and Emily, of Olathe, KS; three sisters, Shirley Graham of Broken Arrow, OK, Joyce Moore of Catoosa, OK, and Eudora LeBass of Catoosa, OK; as well as one brother, Bill Smith of Barnsdall, OK.
Lilly grew up near Hominy, OK, graduating from Mound Valley School in 1958. She started working in Pawhuska, OK, at the Osage County Courthouse in 1958. While in Pawhuska, she met her eventual husband, Jerry Heflin, in the early 1960s. They were wed on April 14, 1962. They would move to Ponca City, OK, in 1965 where she started work at Conoco Oil Co. With the birth of her first son, she became a stay at home mother for the next 15 years. She would eventually return to working at Conoco in the mid 1980s where she would continue working until she retired in 2000.
They lived in several different cities over their lives, including Pawhuska, OK, Holdenville, OK, Bristow, OK, Marysville, KS, Arkansas City, KS, before moving to Excelsior Springs, MO in 2006. She was a caregiver for her husband Jerry for 15 years. She enjoyed spending time with her grandkids, watching their plays and other school activities, playing bridge, going golfing and bowling when younger, having lunches with her friends in Excelsior Springs, and walking the trails at Watkins Mill State Park, near her home in Excelsior Springs, MO. She also enjoyed working around the house including growing fruits and vegetables in her garden.
The visitation and service will be at the Bross & Spidle Funeral Home, 217 W. Broadway Street, Excelsior Springs, MO on Thursday, January 4, 2024. The visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. with the service following at 11 a.m. A luncheon will be served at the Excelsior Springs Golf Club, 1201 E. Golf Hill Drive, Excelsior Springs, MO, after the service.
Our Sincere Condolences
So sorry for your loss. Your mom was a very sweet lady. She used to walk by my house and stop and talk to my husband and me. We both really enjoyed talking to her.
Beverly Bryant
Lilly & I were in the same class & ran around together, ate our lunches together. She even lived with us in Pawhuska for awhile where she met your dad. Bill liked to call her every week to see how she was doing & of course get her riled up about politics. He remembered the rooster flogging her which left a scar on her forehead when she was quite young. Of course they had chicken & noodles! She will be greatly missed!!
Bill & Ann Smith
