James William Heley, 84, Overland Park, Kansas

James William Heley passed away on Thursday, August 4, 2016. 

Jim was born May 8, 1932 to Dr. James and Margaret (Cowles) Heley in West Concord, Minn. He was a star athlete, musician and class president. 

He married his high school sweetheart, Marilyn Flom, on June 8, 1953, the day she graduated from St. Olaf College. They recently celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary.  

Jim served in the U.S. Navy in Olathe, Kan., from 1950-1954 and graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1959. 

Eventually settling in Kansas City, Jim and Marilyn raised six daughters, built James Heley Enterprises and began a lifetime of community service.  

They were long-time and very active members of Faith Lutheran Church in Prairie Village, Kan., and currently enjoy involvement at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Overland Park, Kan.

Jim’s compassion and leadership will be sorely missed in the community. He was instrumental in forming and supporting Clinicare Family Health Services, which served the working poor of Wyandotte County. Over the years, the Heley couple contributed support and many hours of service to Clinicare, Harvesters, Metropolitan Lutheran Ministry, the Kansas City Cancer Gala, Kansas City Hospice, Outpacing Melanoma, the MS Achievement Center, their churches and numerous other charities and organizations.

With a zest for life and an always positive attitude, Jim enjoyed singing with his family and in the church choir, boating (including teaching his daughters and others to water ski), bicycling, snow skiing, Jayhawk basketball, the KC Royals, the KC Chiefs, vacationing with his family, golfing, traveling, music of all kinds, spending time with family and friends, Friday breakfast group, dancing, helping with the Iowa corn harvest and watching the sunset with his bride at their winter home in Florida. His wife, daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren have been the light of his life. Being involved in their lives and activities brought him great joy. 

Jim is preceded in death by his parents and sister, Helen Newell, and will be greatly missed by an extensive network of family and friends.  

His family would like to especially thank Dr. Gary Doolittle and the staff of both the University of Kansas Hospital and the Kansas City Hospice House for their kind and compassionate care. 

Dad, your daughters are going to miss your positive attitude and guidance, your loyalty to family and friends, your outgoing nature, your sense of humor, your wonderful listening skills, your inquisitive mind, your cheerful smile, your entrepreneurial spirit, your ability to fix things and for “being really good at math,” your adventurous energy, your pats on the back and your never-ending support. You are our hero.

Grandpa, your grandchildren thank you for being “the best role model EVER”  and will continue to make you proud and live up to your legacy. We love you.

He is survived by his wife Marilyn, his sister Doris Hall, his six daughters; Lynn Heley Ford, Kay Heley (Bill Roush), Sue Heley, Jill Heley Otterson (Daniel), Kara Heley Quist (Michael), and Nicole Heley Lehman (Aaron); fifteen grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

A memorial service was held on August 6, 2016, at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Overland Park, Kan. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to Outpacing Melanoma Foundation (11939 Noland St., Overland Park, Kan., 66213), Metropolitan Lutheran Ministry (MLM, 3031 Holmes St., Kansas City, Mo.,  64109) or Kansas City Hospice Foundation (KCHPC, 1500 Meadow Lake Parkway, Suite 200, Kansas City, Mo., 64114).