Richard D. Heeney

Richard "Dick" Delaney Heeney passed away on Friday, April 29, 2016 at the home of his daughter Kelley Pelini. He was born on April 10, 1932 in Kansas City, MO, to Mr. Bernard "Barney" J. Heeney and Mrs. Elizabeth M. Heeney, of Beattie, Kansas. He married Helen Louise Anderson on August 28th, 1955, and they remained married for forty-three years until her death on December 2, 1998. Dick attended school in Beattie, Kansas, and graduated from Beattie High School in 1950. While there he lettered in football, basketball, track and baseball. He was also a class officer for three years and participated in his Junior and Senior plays, glee club and band. He was a true Jayhawk and attended the University of Kansas in the fall of 1950 where he joined the Fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta. He met and maintained many great friends while in Lawrence. He remained there for two years until he took a leave from college to join the United States Navy in 1952. He remained with the Navy for two years and served on the USS Midway during his tour of duty. After he was honorably discharged from the Navy, he returned to the KU campus he continued his college education and graduated in 1956 with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics. He continued his studies for another year and one-half and received additional graduate hours in accounting in 1957. Dick and Helen moved to Marysville, Kansas, where he joined the People's Building and Loan Association in 1958. After a year he left to join his brother in law, Art Little, and his father in law, Elmer Anderson, at Anderson Motors, where he was co-manager of Rambler sales. On November 1, 1960, he joined his parents at the Beattie State Bank, Beattie, Kansas, as its assistant cashier. Then on January 1, 1962, he became solely in charge of the bank upon his parents' retirement from the bank. He remained there until 1966 at which time he sold the bank and took his family to Topeka, KS, where he entered the Washburn Law School. He successfully completed his Juris Doctorate degree in 1969. After his graduation from Washburn he returned to Marysville with his family and joined the law firm which became Galloway, Wiegers, Sprouse and Heeney where he remained until his retirement on May 5, 2000. At a Law Day celebration earlier in the week of his retirement, many friends and colleagues spoke highly of his legal career as an attorney who always conducted himself professionally and with great dedication. As a person, he was referred to as one who was concerned for the people he represented, always known to tell the truth and of good character. Many people considered him one of the kindest men in Marysville. His family was of utmost importance to him. He worked hard to provide every opportunity for his children to succeed and influenced them by living a full and unselfish life. He spent many weekends at Tuttle Creek Lake camping with family and friends. Family reunions and get-together were a priority in his life. He especially enjoyed being with his brother, Barney, celebrating St. Patrick's Day in Topeka. He was an avid genealogist and proud of his Irish heritage. His research filled file box after file box. One of his favorite trips was taken with his cousin Ann E. Delaney when they traveled to Ireland together to research their family roots. While there he kissed the Blarney Stone at Blarney Castle in the County of Cork on October 22, 2001. Dick was actively involved in civic affairs throughout his life. He was involved in the Kansas Bar Association, Kansas Bankers Association, Jay Cees, Kiwanis Club, American Legion, Masonic Lodge, and Shriners in which he delighted parade-goers playing the bongo drums as a member of the Oriental Shrine Band. As a longtime member of the Marysville Country Club he entertained many members with his jovial stories and great sense of humor. He is survived by his brother, Barney Heeney, and wife, Marje Heeney, Topeka, Kansas, and his four children and their spouses, Steve and Cindy Heeney, Leawood, Kansas; Lisa Heeney and Joe Hand, Sandpoint, Idaho; Tim and Nancy Heeney, Sandpoint, Idaho; and, Kelley Pelini, Martell, Nebraska. He also has eight grandchildren (Jared Heeney, Dustin Heeney, Carolyn Jordan, Joshua Heeney, Nichole Pelini, Nathan Heeney, Danielle Pelini and Dominic Pelini, and one great-child, Carter Happel. A graveside service at Marysville Cemetery and celebration of life event will be held on Saturday, June 4, 2016 at 10:30 a.m. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Richard D. Heeney, please visit our flower store.