Mary Louise Heiselman, 98, died Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2016, at Holmes Lake Rehabilitation Center, where she had recently moved after living in her home on Madison Avenue in Lincoln for more than 70 years. Known as Louise by most of her many friends, she was called Mary Lou by some and Meme by most.
Mrs. Heiselman was born April 11, 1918, to the Rev. William Oscar and Ollie Louise Slaughter. She married Therold Nathaniel Heiselman on March 15, 1936. The couple observed their 60th wedding anniversary shortly before his death in 1996.
Mrs. Heiselman spent her long life planting seeds in the lives of young girls she led during her many years as a Camp Fire Girl leader. In her decades as active leader in her church, first at Green Chapel and then later at Belmont Baptist Church, both in Lincoln, she taught Sunday school, led Bible study groups and served in church leadership positions. The daughter of a Baptist preacher, she never wavered in her faith.
A certified master gardener, she loved working with the flowers and other fauna in her large yard on Madison Avenue that was a former ‘Yard of the Month’ recipient.
Mrs. Heiselman was the matriarch of her large family and the family genealogist. She loved the biennial Slaughter family reunions where dozens of family members would gather at different locations in the country. While she was still able to attend, she was always able to tell those in attendance exactly where they fit on the Slaughter family tree. It made no difference to Mrs. Heiselman how distant a relative you were, once she placed you on the family tree, she treated you like a favorite aunt or cousin.
Mrs. Heiselman is survived by three daughters, Margaret Louise (Pew) Briggs (Fred) and Charlotte Moyer (Ray), both of Lincoln, and Lynda Kay Cannon (John) of Ashland, Ky.; 15 grandchildren, many great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren and one great-great-great-grandchild. A son, Charles Heiselman, preceded both of his parents in death.
Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Belmont Baptist Church, 3424 N. 14th Street in Lincoln, NE 68521. Grandsons Fred, Lee and Kevin Briggs, Charles Bissell, John Nathaniel Cannon and Jim Hicks will serve as honorary pallbearers.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Belmont Baptist Church or Appalachian Christian Project, 6550 KY-32 1, Hagerhill, KY 41220.