Clara Heizer Obituary

Lifelong La Plata County resident Clara Belle Barlow Heizer died Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011, in Durango. She was 94.

Mrs. Heizer was born to Fredrick William Barlow and Annie Cecelia (Sisley) Barlow on June 11, 1916, in Durango. She was one of nine children. Her brother Jesse Barlow was named for Jesse James after her mother rode on his lap on a train ride when she was 5.

Her father came to Animas City in the early 1900s, and her mother's family, the Sisleys, came over the Continental Divide in a covered wagon in the late 1880s. Mrs. Heizer's grandmother walked most the way from La Veta, even though she was eight months pregnant. For a time, the Sisleys lived in the Joy cabin when it was on Main Street. The cabin now is on display at the Animas Museum.

Mrs. Heizer's father owned and operated San Juan Dairies. She grew up on the dairy farm, located where Escalante Middle School now stands, doing chores and helping around the dairy.

"Her life was rich with family stories," her family said, "such as picking out and riding the lead cow each day to bring them into the barn for the night and numerous sibling pranks!"

One of the main Barlow homes was up Lightner Creek and now is a bed and breakfast. Mrs. Heizer's father built the barn there that is still stranding today.

She attended Park Elementary, Smiley Junior High and the old Fort Lewis schools. Mrs. Heizer was trained by the Sisters of Mercy and worked as a nurse's aide from 1935 to 1938 at the old Mercy Hospital. For several years during World War II, the hospital was short of nurses, so Mrs. Heizer at times served as a nurse and doctor's assistant. One of her duties was to sew and fill sand bags used as splints during surgery.

Mrs. Heizer always felt she acquired many skills from her mother, who was a midwife in La Plata County in the early 1900s. She also occasionally served as a private-duty nurse. Later in life, she was the bookkeeper for Heizer Auto Repair (later Heizer Auto Salvage).

While attending baseball games in Cedar Hill and Riverside, N.M., she met Wallace R. "Bubs" Heizer. They married Oct. 23, 1938, in Aztec.

The Heizers joined the Foursquare Gospel Church in 1938 and were baptized together in Lightner Creek in July 1939. Mrs. Heizer was a member of the church's women's group and devoted 53 years to teaching 4- and 5-year-old children at the Foursquare Church in Durango, never missing a Sunday.

"She felt a passionate calling to teach children God's Word 'so they would have Jesus in their hearts to lead and guide them every day,'" her family wrote.

The couple were accomplished dancers, having danced together all over the county. Mrs. Heizer enjoyed music, playing the piano and keyboard by ear, and in later years relaxed while drawing landscapes.

"All who knew Clara Belle spoke of her kind and gentle spirit and how 'You were enriched by knowing her,'" her family wrote. "She loved to laugh, was diligent in prayer, was always gracious and appreciative and, amazingly, never complained."

Mrs. Heizer was a member of the Association for Handicapped Citizens for more than 30 years.

Mrs. Heizer was preceded in death by her husband of 66 years, Wallace Heizer; and daughter Marlene Heizer.

She is survived by her son, Wallace E. Heizer, of Durango; a daughter, Rebecca "Becky" Heizer of Durango; three grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and great-great-nieces and nephews.

Visitation will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2011, at Hood Mortuary Chapel, 1261 East Third Ave. A funeral will be held at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 10, 2011, also at Hood. Burial will take place afterward at Greenmount Cemetery.