116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Obituaries
The Gazette publishes obituaries on a daily basis. Use the search field above to search for obituaries by name or keyword. Readers can submit an obituary or submit a milestone to The Gazette. The obituary must be submitted before 1 p.m. for publication on thegazette.com at 6 p.m. and in the daily edition the next day, with the exception of obituaries for Sunday publication, which must be submitted by 1 p.m. on Fridays.
Marjorie Heffner
MARJORIE HEFFNER
Cedar Rapids
Marjorie Beth Heffner, 86, affectionately called Beth by her family and friends, passed away Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015, at Phoebe Allentown, Pa., where she was a resident at the David A. Miller building.
Born in Webster City, Iowa, on Feb. 25, 1928, she was the daughter of the late John and Iva Heffner. Beth's late sisters and brothers-in-law were Charlotte Spencer and husband Phillip, Dorothy Miller and husband Charles, and Ramona Carthey.
Beth received her bachelor's degree from Iowa State University and her master's degree from the University of Iowa. She was first employed as a medical technologist at Iowa Methodist Hospital and Blank Memorial Hospital for Children in Des Moines. Later she served as a fourth-grade elementary school teacher for many years in the Cedar Rapids Community Schools. Beth was a longtime member of St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Cedar Rapids until January 2011. She served for many years as a volunteer in the St. Paul's Church music department and sang in the sanctuary choir. Beth was an avid reader and enjoyed the study of birds and bird watching. In 2011, she moved to Allentown, Pa., to be with her family and was previously a resident at Phoebe Terrace in Allentown.
Survivors include her brother-in-law, Wilbur Carthey of Allentown, Pa.; nieces, Louise Murphy and husband James of Paraiso, Mexico, and daughter Jill; Martha Brooks and husband Ken of Kirkland, Ill., and daughters, Kim and Karissa; Ann Straley and husband Edward of Shippensburg, Pa., and son Joshua, and daughters, Beth and Christina; and Lisa Fichera and husband Michael of New Tripoli, Pa.; and nephew, Charlii Miller and wife Janet of Middletown, Del.
A memorial service celebrating Beth's life will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 7, in the Moyer Hall Chapel, Phoebe Home, 1925 Turner St., Allentown, Pa. Arrangements by J.S. Burkholder Funeral Home, Allentown, Pa.; www.jsburkholder.com.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in memory of Beth to St. Paul's United Methodist Church, 1340 Third Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52403; or to the Pastoral Care Fund, Phoebe Ministries Allentown Campus, 1925 Turner St., Allentown, PA 18104.
Daily Newsletters