Marion Mickey Clay Heestand, 70, of Salem, passed away on October 11, 2023 at home surrounded by her family.
He was born July 30, 1953 in Salem to the late Marion Clay and Betty Jane (Shores) Heestand.
Mickey was a lifelong area resident, a 1971 graduate of Salem High School and a 1975 graduate of Youngstown State University. This was the beginning of a long and successful career as a mechanical engineer. He worked at Union Carbide, EW Bliss, GM Lordstown (Fisher Body) and for the past 38 years at Hunt Valve, where he retired last month. Mickey held numerous titles during his career at Hunt and had served as Senior Vice President of Mechanical Engineering at one point. He was a true born leader both in his field and in life.
Mickey had many hobbies and projects that he did throughout his life. He rebuilt old cars, machinery, boats and anything else he could improve. I always had a project going or was researching how to build and fix things. His 2010 John Deere Backhoe Rebuild was very important and useful to him. He used it to work on clearing land to build his house and pond, as well as other real estate improvements. It was always special to his heart to hear the events of his children. He had been a former member of the First Christian Church of Salem and had strong ties to the First Community Church of Leavittsburg, where he and his wife were married.
He is survived by his wife, Laura Ann (Feidler) Heestand whom he married on October 28, 1995, his children; Benjamin James Heestand of Youngstown and Holly Ann Heestand of Salem, siblings; Daryl (Amy) Heestand of Rural Hall, NC and Kenneth (Robin) Heestand of Salem.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death on November 26, 1994 by his first wife, Mary Lou (Gerbert) Heestand.
A celebration of life service will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday at Arbaugh-Pearce-Greenisen & Sons Funeral and Cremation Services, Salem, officiated by Pastors John Jaros and Rod Winyard of First Community Church. Visiting hours will be on Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. one hour before the services on Saturday.
Please go read his life story and leave condolences at www.apgreenisenfh.com
10/16/23
