William Heiden Obituary

Former Durango resident William Leroy Heiden died of lung cancer on Thursday, Feb. 11, 2010, at his home in Wildomar,

Calif. He was 67.

Known as “Butch," he was born to Mainard and Elizabeth “Betty" Heiden on March 7, 1942, in Santa Monica, Calif. He grew

up in Durango and earned his general equivalency diploma through Durango High School.

At the age of 18, Mr. Heiden enlisted in the Army and served as a member of the military police. After his discharge,

he continued in a career with law enforcement, first with the Laguna Beach Police Department and then as an

investigator with the Orange County District Attorney's Office in California. Mr. Heiden retired in July 1, 2009.

In June 1982, he married Mary Jo Chism in Santa Ana, Calif.

He enjoyed spending his free time riding horse trails all over the country and made many riding buddies, his family

said.

Mr. Heiden is survived by his wife of 27 years, Mary Jo Heiden, of Wildomar; daughters Shannon Ordonez of Wildomar and

Shauna Walsh of Winchester, Calif.; stepson, Todd Chism, of Canyon Lake, Calif.; mother, Elizabeth “Betty" Heiden of

Durango; sisters Karen Binger of Durango and Anne Pilcher of Longmont; five grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews

and cousins.

Visitation will be held from 2 to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 19, 2010, at Hood Mortuary in Durango. A service will be held at

11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 20, 2010, at Hood Mortuary Chapel, with graveside services immediately afterward at Greenmount

Cemetery,

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to City of Hope Cancer Hospital, 1500 Duarte Road, Duarte, CA

91010