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Schafer, Marilyn "Kay" (Heacker)

June 5, 1938 –
 June 27, 2020

Obituary

Marilyn “Kay” Schafer (Heacker) born on June 5, 1938 in Los Angeles, CA to Meda “Lois” Keys (Clayton) and Lewis C. Heacker, passed away peacefully on June 27 after a very full life and a valiant battle with cancer. Kay was preceded in death by her parents, beloved husband Max and her brother Lewis Heacker Jr. She is survived by her daughters Cinde Manoel (Mark) Australia and Susan Schafer (Joe) of Carrollton, TX; grandchildren Nicole Schafer, Michael & Max Manoel, Mary Russum; sisters Karen Wise (Gordon), Betty Heacker (Vicki) and Marcia H. Faschingbauer (Tom). She is also survived by brother in law Gene Schafer (Peggy), sister in law Jo Schafer, many cousins, nieces & nephews. Kay graduated from Edgewater High School in Orlando, FL in 1956. In the fall she began North Texas State College (UNT) and pledged Chi Omega sorority. While there, Kay met her college sweetheart Max, a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. They shared a love of dancing and made lifelong friends. Max and Kay married in December 1958 and she earned her degree in Education with Honors in 1959. They moved to Ft. Worth where Kay worked for Southwestern Bell as a call center manager. In 1962, Kay and Max moved to Richardson to raise their family. They joined First United Methodist Church Richardson (FUMCR) and their daughters attended Richardson schools. Kay stayed home with the girls and volunteered many hours at church and their elementary school, including serving as PTA President with Max. After both girls were in school, Kay began working as a Pre School teacher at Arapaho Methodist Preschool and later in sales at the Dallas Apparel Mart during seasonal markets. In 1980 she and a college friend, Barbara Sampson, opened their own showroom at the Dallas Apparel Mart, Schafer & Sampson, where they successfully represented children’s wear lines until they retired in 2003. Kay served on the Apparel Mart board for several years. After retiring, Kay continued to volunteer, travel and spend more time with her family. Kay loved traveling throughout the US and Europe and spending time at a family home in Santa Fe, NM. Kay came out of retirement to work part time for the Caring Ministries team at FUMCR, finally retiring a second time when she turned 80. Three very important things to Kay were her faith, family and friends. Kay loved the Lord and had an unshakable faith. Her favorite Bible verse was John 15:5. Kay was very active in her church serving in many ways including the Children’s Ministry, Stephen’s Ministry, Emmaus, Habitat for Humanity and various mission trips including a trip to the Czech Republic. Bible studies, including her “Teeny Tiny Group” that spanned over 30 years, and the Apostle Sunday School class were integral to her life. Kay was treasured by family for the way she had of making everyone feel so special. She was a loving big sister and had a close relationship with all of her siblings. She was active in her children’s lives, always supporting them in their pursuits in school and life. She was also very involved in her grandchildren’s lives and felt grateful they were growing up close by. Nana taught them to love the arts through plays, musicals, museums and the arboretum. Picnics, beach trips, cooking lessons, holidays and ‘Nana breakfasts’ will always be treasured memories. Nana and Gramps/Poppy supported their grandchildren in all of their school and extracurricular activities. In addition to their biological grandchildren, many of their grandkid’s friends consider Nana their adopted grandmother. Kay enjoyed special lasting friendships with so many people from college, church, her neighborhood, workplaces and the Richardson High School Tri Hi Y group she sponsored in the 70’s. She was a rock of support and natural counselor. Kay was also an amazing cook and thousands of delicious meals and lemon squares were homemade with love and delivered to friends, family and strangers over the years. A celebration of her life will be held Monday, July 13, 10:00 AM at First United Methodist Church Richardson via livestream www.fumcr.com/live. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to FUMCR, PEO (Chapter EZ Scholarship Fund) or Network of Community Ministries in her memory. Please leave the family condolences and share memories on this website.  

Arrangements under the direction of:

Aria Cremation Service and Funeral Home

19310 Preston Road

Dallas, Texas 75252

(214) 306-6700

    MALTA & SAM AKINS
    3 Jul 2020
    11:47pm

    OUR DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO THE DAUGHTERS AND FAMILIES SHE AND MAX HAD BEEN OUR SPECIAL FRIENDS SINCE SPE AT UNT.

    Andrew Gwilt
    9 Jul 2020
    12:23pm

    Our sincere sympathies on the loss of Kay
    A sweet and gracious lady who was so welcoming whenever we saw her
    Kay’s love of God and Family was so evident
    I particularly remember the time Kay floated into ICU ,to visit me,like angel and prayed so warmly and lovingly for me
    All our love
    The Gwilt family

    Jennifer Culbertson
    9 Jul 2020
    7:51pm

    Kay was like a grandmother to Laura. growing up. Such an angel she was.

    Yvonne (Bunny Sunday) Gaines
    9 Jul 2020
    10:13pm

    I’m so happy you went through Facebook and found the Edgewater High School link to let Kay’s classmates know of her passing. Kay will always be remembered as a kind and caring classmate. I worked on several of Edgewater’s reunions and Kay was always such a wonderful person who put a lot of joy in our reunions. I know she will be missed by her Edgewater classmates and everyone who knew her. May she rest in peace.

    David Clayton
    10 Jul 2020
    7:22am

    I loved our time together as children in Florida
    We all well miss you, your cousin

    Lisa Clayton Meeks
    11 Jul 2020
    10:16am

    J.C. Clayton’s family wants y’all to know or thought and prayers are with y’all.
    Lisa and Scott Meeks
    Aaron,Addison,Mallory,Eathan,& Thomas

    Lisa Clayton Meeks
    11 Jul 2020
    10:17am

    J.C. Clayton’s family wants y’all to know or thought and prayers are with you all.
    Lisa and Scott Meeks
    Aaron,Addison,Mallory,Eathan,& Thomas

    Gloria Rowell
    11 Jul 2020
    10:26am

    My sympathy to the family and loved ones of Kay. I met Kay through church Bible Study classes. What a dear, lovely lady, and a strong Christian who radiated the love and kindness of Christ.

    Jim Sampson
    11 Jul 2020
    12:30pm

    Having been a sorority sister, business partner and friend of my wife, Kay was like a family member to Barbara, my children and me. She was a great lady and great friend who lived a good life and made a positive impact on all those she was around. She will be missed, but we can all take comfort in knowing she and Max will be once again united and spending eternity together in Heaven.

    11 Jul 2020
    12:31pm

    KEN AND DOROTHY CHEAIRS

    11 Jul 2020
    12:41pm

    KEN AND DOROTHY CHEAIRS

    WE ARE SHARING IN THE GRIEF OF LOSING BOTH MAX AND KAY—–LONG TIME FRIENDS FROM NORTH TEXAS AND SIGMA PHI ELISION

    Robyn Clayton Perkins
    11 Jul 2020
    10:06pm

    Would like to send our Condolences to the girls and there family’s I know Kay loved you so much.

    Elizabeth Semrad
    12 Jul 2020
    10:56am

    To all of Kay’s family, Lawrence and I send our deepest sympathy. Kay was a very good neighbor for many years. I always looked forward to her snow-day Hot Mulled Wine afternoons with all of the neighbors and the children. With deepest sympathy to all of you. Lawrence and Liz Semrad

    Lisa Clayton Meeks
    13 Jul 2020
    11:12am

    Thank you for allowing us to attend the service online. The service was very good, the pictures were beautiful. I saw Aunt Lois in several of them.
    Even though I could not attend in person my thoughts and prayers were with you all. May God bless you all with joyful memories.
    Sincerely,
    Lisa Clayton Meeks daughter of J C Clayton

    Jan Casner
    17 Jul 2020
    6:53pm

    The service for Kay was a beautiful celebration of her wonderful life. The pictures were so special. Kay’s strong faith was visible is everything she did. She brought, comfort, joy and happiness to all and made this world a better place. I’m so glad to have had the privilege of knowing her.

    Brenda Dickey
    22 Dec 2020
    9:15am

    Kay was special in so many ways. A loyal friend who gave from her heart . God Bless and keep you and Max. Together forever.

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"I can’t say enough about how helpful and professional Dusty Martin, the funeral director at the Aria Cremation location on NW Highway has been. From my initial call, he was kind and informative. My friend died at home while on hospice and she was picked up in about an hour after receiving the call from the hospice nurse. The person who arrived to pick her up was also very professional/respectful and allowed us to take as much time with her as we wished. When I met with Dusty the next day about arrangements, he explained the process and options available without being pushy or trying to “sell” extras. Throughout the process, he kept me informed and, for example, was careful to be certain I understood the cost of the obituary I wanted and offered some options for reducing that cost if I wished. When I stopped by for another reason and started talking about some of the problems I was having with the pictures and media I hoped to use at a memorial lunch I was planning, he not only listened patiently but offered technology advice and let me use his personal media player. I have had experience arranging cremations for four others using two other local companies, and this experience with Dusty at Aria has been by far the best one I have had."
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