Obituary

Heather N. Healey

Fri, 12/16/2022 - 1:30pm

Heather N. Healey of Snowflake, Arizona passed away the morning of Dec. 15, 2022, at the age of 87.

Born Nov. 17, 1935, to Clarence Gueth Sr., and Marcile (Vanarsdale) Gueth in Auburn, Indian, Heather graduated from Jackson City Township High, now Grove City High School, in Grove City, Ohio in 1953. Eat ‘em up, Greyhounds!

Upon graduation, she moved to Miami, Florida where she developed a nomadic wanderlust, love for sailing, and just being in nature. She held many occupations including a commercial model for Zest soap, hostess on Windjammer cruises, lab technician for the V.A. hospital, personal assistant, and screen printer.

Her love for adventure found her living in a VW van in Baja, Mexico, sailing her boat to the Bahamas, riding her Triumph motorcycle across country three times, flying to Scotland, and cruising the inter-coastal waterway from Florida to Maine where she settled on Southport Island from 1980-1992.

While living on Southport, she worked at the Fort Cowan Bunny Barracks taking care of and showing rabbits. She was very involved in the community as a member of the United Methodist Church where she sang in the choir and was a very convincing Santa for the island children. She was also a volunteer EMT for the region. Her rebellious nature led her to be the first woman to attempt to join the Southport Volunteer Fire Department, which was met with much opposition in those days. She went on to run her own screen-printing business, Rocky Coast Crafts, where she traveled to many festivals and craft shows across the country.

In her later years she traveled the country in her RV volunteering for the Army Corps of Engineers at several state parks in California, Oregon and Arizona. She enjoyed crafting and making blankets and knitted goods for seniors, the “unhoused,” and victims of childhood trauma. She was dedicated to helping the less fortunate and would often “adopt” and mentor wayward young people. She was great at giving advice and wouldn’t hesitate to say, “Pull yourself up by your bra straps and keep going!”

She is survived by daughter Lynda (Fugitt) España; her partner, Gabe, and dog, Dash, of Rockland, Maine; daughter Cathy (Creamer) Grandstaff and husband, Gary, of Utica, Ohio; grandsons Brian Shaub and wife, Aimee, and Jeff Shaub and wife, Alaine; great-grandchildren Hailee, Brice, Chase, and Jake Shaub; a brother John Gueth and wife, Denise; many loved nieces, nephews, and special friends.

She was a lover of animals, particularly her dogs and goats. In lieu of flowers, please donate in her name to your local animal shelter.