Burgaw: Mary Ellen Boyer Heim, age 77, on Monday, December 10, 2007 surrounded by her loving children passed gently from her earthly home to eternal peace.

She was born June 4, 1930 in Williamsport, PA, the daughter of the late William and Myrtle Haywood Boyer.

For fifty-four years Mary Ellen was a devoted and proud "Marine wife" of Capt. Donald E. Heim, who died June 7, 2006.

Don and Mary Ellen lived in many different places before settling in Burgaw in 1987. Together they raised three children, Donald "Don" Eugene Heim, Jr. who now lives in Wilmington; Deborah Jean "Debbie" Garriss and her husband, Tommy who live in Burgaw and Denise Elaine Uhlin and her husband, Stan who live in Lafayette, LA. She was the proud grandmother of Zachary Heim, Sarah Kunhardt, Mathew Kunhardt, Sarah Garriss, Elissa Hahn and husband, Kevin, and Derek Eldridge and wife, Keri; and great grandmother of Everett Hahn. She also is survived by one brother, William Boyer, Jr. of Maryland.

Mary Ellen's last request to her beloved three children was that her funeral arrangements be carried out exactly as she had planned.

To honor their mother's last request a final tribute to Mary Ellen will be a graveside service at 12 noon on Wednesday, December 12, at Coastal Carolina State Veterans Cemetery in Jacksonville. The Rev. Mark Rodgers, pastor of Burgaw Baptist Church where Mary Ellen was a faithful member, will conduct the service.

Casketbearers will be Donald Heim, Jr., Tommy Garriss, Zachary Heim, Mathew Kunhardt, Daniel Child, and Pablo Hernandez.

In lieu of flowers Mary Ellen requested that memorial gifts be given to Burgaw Baptist Church, PO Box 385, Burgaw, NC 28425.

The light of her love, the tenderness of her care, the warmth of her presence brightened the lives of those who called Mary Ellen, "Mom, MeMa, sister, and friend".