CHARLES RAY 'CHIC' HECKART

CLASS OF 1948

APRIL 10, 1930 - JANUARY 15, 1999

Charles Ray "Chic" Heckart, age 68, of Osawatomie, KS passed away suddenly January 15, 1999 in San Benito, TX.

He was born April 10, 1930 in Osawatomie, the son of William O. and Velcie Angleton Heckart. Chic grew up in Osawatomie, attended the local schools, and graduated with the Class of 1948. That same year, he joined the Paola National Guard, Battery C, 127th Field Artillery Battalion, he served for one year. He attended Parsons Junior College in Parsons, Kansas on a basketball scholarship graduating in 1950.

On November 19, 1950, he was united in marriage to Dorothy Cortner in Osawatomie. They were happily married for 48 years.

He attended the College of Emporia and graduated in 1953 with a bachelor of science degree in education. He received a master's degree from Emporia State University in 1967. He taught two years at Eudora, Kansas and three years at Eskridge, Kansas. In 1958, he returned to Osawatomie where he taught world history, physical education, and driver's education. He coached basketball, tennis, and assisted in football for a total of 37 years. At the time of his retirement in 1990, Chic was serving as the high school's athletic director.

He was a long time member of the First United Methodist Church where he served many years as an usher, a member of the Miami County Area Retired Teachers' Association, Osage Valley Lodge #24 AF & AM, BPOE #921, former member of the Eskridge, Kansas Lions Club, Athletic Directors Association, served on the Osawatomie City Council and was the Major of Osawatomie for six years.

Chic was a devoted husband to Dorothy and a loving father to two daughters Barbie Ginavan, Olathe, and Jane McGraw, Shawnee. He was preceded in death by his father and mother, his brother, Bill Heckart, two sisters Helen Annis of Garden Grove, California and Lucille Livingston of Parsons, Kansas. Survivors besides his wife and daughters are sons-in-law Robert Ginavan and Tim McGraw, six grandchildren Tyler, Kelsi, Kyson, and Tanner Ginavan and Max and Shannon McGraw; sisters Joyce Pennock of Osawatomie and Georgetta Dickey of Phoenix, Arizona; many nieces and nephews; other relatives and many, many friends.

He will be remembered as one who embraced life and had a great love and passion for family and tennis. Chic stayed actively involved until his untimely and sudden death in local, state, and national tennis tournaments. He will be greatly missed and thought of fondly by all who knew him. His memory will be in our hearts forever.

His funeral services were held on January 21, 1999 at the First United Methodist Church, Osawatomie, KS. Pallbearers were Chester Pennock, Stan Ricketts, Jim Cortner, Bob Pennock, Steve Ricketts and Lynn Dickey. Honorary Pallbearers were Fred Matney, Keith Meeks, Dave Troxel, Ernest Swenson, Francis Wendt, Mike Rogers, Wally Dumcum, Frank Platt, Bill Lewis, Steve Meyer and Bill Freeman. Burial was in Osawatomie Cemetery.

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