Monday, June 7, 2021

Mickey Heatherly


(From Parker Mortuary)

Mickey L. Heatherly, age 82, Joplin, passed away on Friday, June 4, 2021, at his home.

Mickey was born July 1, 1938 in Picher, Oklahoma, son of the late Carl M. Heatherly and Helen I. (Tow) Heatherly. He grew up in Picher playing quarterback in high school, leading the Picher Gorillas to the State Finals his senior year. He then went to Northeastern Oklahoma A&M to play football in Miami before receiving his master’s degree in education from Pittsburg State. 








He began his coaching career at Carthage and then started the football program at Anderson, then Baxter Springs, Riverton, and finally came to Parkwood as defensive coordinator in 1972. He took over the head coaching position in 1986 after Parkwood and Memorial combined. He coached another 10 years before retiring after 36 years of coaching. He then became active as an official for all the sports, football, basketball, baseball, and softball. He was always a great encourager to his athletes and was there to help anyone in need. He loved helping kids become adults and enjoyed himself along the way. Mickey also enjoyed fishing with his brothers on Grand Lake. He had a great dry sense of humor that will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Janice (Moore) Heatherly; son, Greg Heatherly and wife Judy of Greenwood, Indiana; daughter, Tracy Heatherly Blalock of Joplin; grandchildren, Cale Meier (Rachel), Christian Heatherly, Meagan Meier, Matthew Tyree, and Dakota Tyree (Allyson); siblings, Larry Heatherly, Karlene Bayliss, Richard Heatherly, Dennis Heatherly, Linden Heatherly, and Chuck Heatherly; several nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends at Forest Park Baptist Church on Wednesday, June 9, 2021, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Funeral service will be Thursday, June 10, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. at Forest Park Baptist Church with Pastor Chris Lamb officiating.

Interment will be Thursday at 2:00 p.m. in Glen Abbey Memorial Gardens in Miami, OK with Greg Heatherly, Christian Heatherly, Matthew Tyree, Dakota Tyree, Cale Meier, and Linden Heatherly serving as pallbearers.

The family requests that to honor Coach Heatherly, friends wear casual attire to the funeral, preferably sports related and red in color.

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