Gloria Augustine Obituary

Gloria May Williams Augustine of Durango died Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2013, from pneumonia. She was 71.

Mrs. Augustine was born May 14, 1942, in Santa Monica, Calif., to Alfred G. and Carol E. Williams. She graduated from Santa Monica High School, where she was class vice president, a cheerleader and a surfer. She attended LaVerne College and UCLA.

Mrs. Augustine married Melvin Heckman on June 18, 1966. The marriage later ended in divorce.

They raised their three children in Huntington Beach, Calif.

For many years, she was a kindergarten teacher at Huntington Christian School.

In 1990, Mrs. Augustine was reintroduced to classmate Mark Augustine of Pacific Palisades at their 30-year Santa Monica High School reunion. They married Aug. 25, 1990, in Palos Verdes, Calif. They retired together in 1992 and fulfilled a dream, moving to Durango. Her family said she enjoyed hiking, skiing, gardening and touring on their Harley-Davidson. She was a fashionista and always maintained her sense of style, they said.

She is survived by her husband, Mark Augustine of Durango; daughters Janet Clements of Durango and Kate Chera of Santa Rosa, Calif.; son, Robert Heckman of Huntington Beach, Calif.; sisters Kitsy Williams of Durango, Ann Stitt of Greenbrae, Calif., and Norma Hutcherson of Atlantic Beach, Fla.; brothers Dale Williams of Newport Beach, Calif., and Mark Williams of Long Beach, Calif.; five grandchildren; and a host of extended family and special friends.

A service to celebrate her life will be held Jan. 18, 2014, at First United Methodist Church of Durango, 2917 Aspen Drive.

Memorial contributions may be sent to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society – Donor Services; P.O. Box 4072, Pittsfield, MA 01202, or The Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675.