HEFFNER, Lily Mae (Georgia Dee)

The Payson Roundup, Payson, Arizona, Friday, July 18, 2014 Lily Mae Heffner May 12, 1937 - June 21, 2014 On Saturday, June 21, 2014, Lily, age 77 years, went to be with Jesus. She passed peacefully, with dignity and grace, in the arms of her husband and daughters in Payson, Ariz. Lily, also known as Georgia Dee, was born, one of 12 siblings, May 12, 1937 to John E. and Minnie B. (Gates) Fisher in Altoona, Pa. Lily was a happy, kind, hard-working compassionate woman, who went out of her way to help others who could not help themselves. Lily labored as a waitress in her younger days, eventually becoming a home health aide for the Berks Visiting Nurses and then as an aide at the Hamburg Center, from where she retired, in Hamburg, Pa. Lily was also a successful entrepreneur with Harry Lloyd’s Christmas Around the World, achieving numerous awards and placing number 17 in sales nationwide among thousands of other people. Lily was most recognized for her fabulous voice and band known as Georgia Dee and the Country Gentlemen. She met Bruce Heffner during her singing career and he became her steel guitar player and husband. Her band was extremely popular in the Berks and Schuylkill County areas, having a successful run of 20 years. Her voice had a quality and range few people could match. Lily resided 37 years in Hamburg before moving in 2012 to Arizona. In her Arizona retirement, Lily enjoyed playing cards with her Payson circle of friends and an occasional vocal appearance among the pickers and players at Jake’s Corner. Lily is survived by her husband of 33 years, Bruce Weston Heffner; daughters, Deborah E. (Weber) Hughes, wife of Michael Hughes of Payson, Ariz.; Tina M. (Weber) Hayes of Apache Junction, Ariz.; Bonnie L. (Weber) Wilkins, wife of Mark Wilkins of Allentown, Pa.; Robin L. Weber of Grants, N.M.; and foster daughter Sandra L. (Weber) Lee, wife of Roger Lee of Apache Junction, Ariz. There are 15 grandchildren and 28 greatgrandchildren. Brothers, 1st Lieutenant Charles W. Fisher, USAAC retired WWII P-47 combat pilot of Bedford, Pa.; Master Gunnery Sergeant Dennis B. Fisher, USMC retired Southeast Asia combat veteran of North Carolina; and John E. Fisher of Altoona, Pa.; and sister, Barbara J. Nichols of Ohio also survive. Lily is sadly missed by her German Shepherd, Nikita, who stayed by her side while Lily was passing. Preceding Lily to the afterlife are her parents, John E. and Minnie B. Fisher; brothers, Donald L. Fisher, Paul G. Fisher and E. Wayne Fisher; sisters, Yuvette L. Orischak, Catherine G. Henry, Arlene Engle and June C. Lightner; grandchildren, Bobbie Jo Faust and Zack Hughes. Lily is looking forward to a greeting by her great German Shepherds, Little Wolf, Leroy, Lucy, Lester, K9 Otto and K9 Willow on the far side of the Rainbow Bridge. Friends are warmly invited to gather to share memories and music with Lily’s family from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 24, 2014 in the community room of Messinger Payson Funeral Home, 901 S. Westerly Rd., Payson.