A Grandpa I Never Really Knew

Willard L. Heaps

1936 ~ 2011
Willard Lloyd Heaps, 75, of Alpine passed away October 23, 2011 after a long battle with complications of diabetes. He was born August 29, 1936 in St. Anthony, Idaho to Thomas Levi Heaps and Julia Isabella Kershaw. He spent his childhood in Alpine, Utah, and graduated from American Fork High School in 1954. He served in the United States Air Force from 1954 to 1957 as a jet engine mechanic.
He married Charlene Brown April 4, 1958, in Alpine, Utah. They are the parents of four children. They were later divorced. He graduated from Weber State University in 1969. He attended Brigham Young University in the Graduate School of Public Administration.
Willard joined the Salt Lake Police Department in 1959 and retired as a Major (Assistant Chief) in 1988 after nearly 30 years of service. He joined the Garden City Idaho Police Department as Chief of Police in 1989 and served in that capacity until 1993.
He returned to Alpine where he met and married Merlynne Strong Hoggan on December 10, 1994 in the Provo Temple. He was a High Priest in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and served in various Church callings including Elders Quorum and High Priest Group Leadership, and Ward Clerk. He was a devoted Home Teacher. He was known for his honesty, devotion to duty, and sense of humor.
Willard is survived by his wife, Merlynne, and children, Terri Heaps, Lane (Roslyn) Heaps, Corey (Carolyn) Heaps, Julie (Rob) Shiner, Leisa (Michael) Frost, Kent (Jackie) Hoggan, Hilary (Jeff) Bench, Ron (Meaghan) Hoggan, Steven (Daniela) Hoggan, Nicole (Travis) Hunsaker, and Susanne (Sean) Beck, 34 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. He is also survived by a sister, Julia Devey of Roseburg, Oregon, and a brother, Clift (Janet) Heaps of Alpine, Utah. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers and sisters Pauline, Joe, Melba, Gene, and Elmer, and a granddaughter, Marie Amie Heaps.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, October 29, 2011, in the Deerfield LDS Ward Chapel located at 680 North Eagleview Drive, Alpine, Utah. Family and friends may call on Friday evening from 6:00-8:00 at the Anderson & Sons Mortuary, 49 East 100 North, American Fork, Utah, and at the church on Saturday from 9:30-10:30 prior to the services. Burial will be in the Alpine City Cemetery.