of Batesville, AR
November 4, 1924 - April 7, 2023
Don A. Heuer, 98, of Batesville, Arkansas went to be with his Lord and Savior, Friday morning, April 7th, 2023. Don was born November, 4, 1924 in Thayer, Missouri, the son of A.A. Heuer and Mary Todd Heuer.
Don was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Carol Thomas Heuer; daughter, Anita Baker; sister, Ava Lee Heuer and brother, Sam Heuer. He is survived by his wife, Polly Heuer; sister, Catherine Heuer Ash; son, Jeff Heuer; grandchildren, Angie Franks, Stephanie Phillips and Dustin Heuer; Great Grandchildren, Sydney Franks, Blake Franks, Blaine Ramey, Sheridan Phillips, Declan Heuer, Jacob Crommett and Halley Crommett and great-great Grandchild, Blakely Franks. The joy of Don's life was spending time fishing, hunting, swimming and playing with his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Don attended Batesville High School and the Western Military Academy in Alton, Illinois. On January 5, 1944 he entered the United States Navy and served in the South Pacific Theater on LST 951, a landing craft and hospital ship. He received the Okinawa and Philippine Liberation Ribbons and was present in Tokyo Harbor when the Japanese surrendered ending World War 2.
Upon returning from World War 2, Don met and fell in love with Carol Thomas while they attended Arkansas College (Lyon College today). Don and Carol built a wonderful life together and were married 58 years until she passed. Don met Polly Crommett in 2006 at the White River Medical Center where they both worked as volunteers. They wed in July, 2006 and were married the remainder of his life.
Don was the proprietor of Heuer Shoe Store, a long-time landmark in Downtown Batesville, until his 1985 retirement. At one point he owned five Shoe Stores in Arkansas and Tennessee. Don attended Calvary Baptist Church where he served as a Deacon and taught a men's Sunday School class for over 40 years. Don loved his church and served in various positions on numerous committees in his never-ending effort to help the church grow. Don was involved in many activities and organizations and was an active member of the Batesville business community. He served the Woodlawn Nursing Home board for 34 years and was credited for leading the effort to build the Wildwood Independent Living center. He served on the boards of the First National Bank in Batesville and the Bank of Evening Shade. He served many years on the board of the Heuer and Williams Shoe Association in Springfield, Missouri, which represented 150 shoe stores.
Don enjoyed quail hunting with his bird dogs. He was an avid fisherman. One of the high points of his fishing career was catching a state-record Kentucky Bass, which weighed 5 pounds 8 1/4 ounces. Don was also a pilot who logged almost 900 flying hours. He and Carol enjoyed flying for business and pleasure. Don also enjoyed farming and raising cattle on his 140 farm located on East Main Street in Batesville. Throughout his life he enjoyed helping people and made many amazing friends, including Robert Wadlow of Alton, Illinois, who at 8'11" was still the tallest man who ever lived.
Pallbearers will be Steve Franks, Blake Franks, Dustin Heuer, Declan Heuer, Joe Crommett and Jacob Crommett.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, April 11, 2023 at the Calvary Baptist Church at 2:00pm with Keith Byrd and Randy Scott officiating. Burial will follow at Mt. Zion Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the church one hour prior to service time.
In lieu of flowers, please contribute to the Calvary Baptist Building Fund, 1775 Lyon Street, Batesville, Arkansas 72501.
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22 Condolence(s)
Joan Davidson
Monday, April 17, 2023
Our deepest condolences to the family. Don was good friends with our dad, the late J W. Davidson.
Jan Burrow Qualls
Thursday, April 13, 2023
You are all in my thoughts & prayers
Linda Jobe
Wednesday, April 12, 2023
Polly and all the family, may Our Loving Heavenly Father Comfort you during this very trying time. The days to come will be lonely but you will find Peace knowing your loved one is in HIS ARMS.
Ann Stephens
Wednesday, April 12, 2023
I worked for Don at the shoe store ‘62-65. He was a kind, loyal, and generous man with a love for his dogs. He had two lovely wives in Carol and Polly. He gave me a ride once in his plane. He tried to groom me to run a shoe store someday, but it was not my calling. I will miss his stories and wit and Christmas coffee cakes and letters. My prayer and thoughts go out Polly and his many family members. May God give you solace.
Sherry long
Wednesday, April 12, 2023
So sorry to hear of Mr. Heurs passing away. Made friends with him and Polly when I rented from him. He was a very sweet and generous man . Prayers for Polly and the family . He will truly be missed.
Robert Ford Jr. and Ronald J. Ford and Becky Ford Doster
Tuesday, April 11, 2023
Dear Polly and Family,
I am sad to learn of the recent passing of Don, my long-time friend. We go all the way back to high school where we were in the BHS Pioneer Marching Band. We did business together for many years and our families worshipped together at Calvary Baptist Church for many years as well. Don was a good friend, a soldier for his Lord and Savior and an upstanding citizen in Batesville and surrounding areas. He will be missed greatly by so many that knew him well. My thoughts and prayers are with Polly and all the children, grans and great-grans during this time of loss and grief. God Bless each of you on this journey.
An Old Friend,
Robert Ford, Jr.
Ron Ford and Becky Ford Doster send their thoughts and prayers to the family members in their loss of Don. It's hard to imagine Batesville without Don Heuer. His legacy will live on.
Sean Musser
Tuesday, April 11, 2023
What a wonderful, long lived, blessed life he had. He was a gentle man and very careful and intentional with his words. Thank God for rare men like him. I am thankful Polly was married to him for some time now. He couldn’t have found a better woman to share the latter part of his life here with. God bless you Polly in your sorrow of great loss. Don, we will hope to see you in that heavenly place again with our Lord Jesus.
Jack Kwok
Tuesday, April 11, 2023
Brother Don blessed so many people with his encouragement. My sister Karen and I worked for him at the Batesville shoe store. To this day, I still count change back to customers the way he taught me. I hauled hay for him. He served on my ordination council. We are very grateful for the life and ministry of Don Heuer. Our prayer for the Heuer family and friends: may you receive all of God’s comforting grace.
May our Lord bless you as you trust Him.
In Him,
Jack Kwok
Mark Chunn
Tuesday, April 11, 2023
I am sad to see Don leave us. But after knowing him for years, I know his soul is at peace. I will remember him for his good character, his gentle directness in dealing with others, and his faithful friendship as well as his commitment to being a help to other people. I’m lucky to have been influenced by him in life.
Billy Anderson
Monday, April 10, 2023
Lost a legend in the shoe business! Bought many shoes from over the years. R.I.P. 😪ðŸ™ðŸ™ðŸ™
Betty Burge Cockrill
Monday, April 10, 2023
Jeff, Polly and families, my thoughts and prayers are with each of you. I know Don is at peace in the arms of our Lord.
Dan and Bertie Bailey
Monday, April 10, 2023
Don was truly a wonderful friend. We alway enjoyed visting in your home, hearing stories from the past. So thankful you two found each other. You were trulya blessing to each other. Love and Christan symphathy to you in your time of loss. Love and prayers.
Dan and Bertie Bailey
Jackie Melton
Monday, April 10, 2023
Prayers to The Family
Jo Stroud
Monday, April 10, 2023
Don was one of the finest Christian men that I know. He loved Calvary Baptist Church and did everything he could to serve the Lord there. The picture you have used shows so much of who he was, smiling, alert and full of life, a little mischievous, and interested in everything. We have lost a good man and heaven has gained one.
Larry Allgood
Monday, April 10, 2023
I was saddened to read of Don's passing. Virtually, all children that grew up in Batesville when Don had the shoe store, bought shoes from Don. He was a very nice man and he'll be missed by all that knew him. All those that loved Don, can be comforted by knowing he's now in the hands of our Lord.
Nick & Katrina Fudge
Monday, April 10, 2023
I remember when I was growing up & getting to go to Heuer's Shoe Store to get new shoes for school. I know Mr. Heuer was a kind man who served his Country and his Community. He will be missed.
Twyla Wright
Monday, April 10, 2023
Oh my, I just saw his obituary, and was amazed at all he had done. I'm so glad that you had one another, Polly. You have been such a love and nurturer. Remember when he gave that marvelous velvet quilt to the museum I'm so sorry that I can't be present at his service, but please know that I will asking God's love on you.
Twyla Gill Wright
Sammy & Teresa Butler
Monday, April 10, 2023
Deepest Condolences. Keeping you and family in prayer. Don was a good man.
Gina Robertson
Monday, April 10, 2023
So sorry to hear of Don’s passing. Bought many a pair of shoes from him and considered him part of the family. Prays and thoughts are coming your way!
Vaughn & Shirley Blue
Monday, April 10, 2023
So sorry to hear about Don's death. We were glad to be members of the same church. He was on my ordination council. So glad that we got to see him at Calvary Baptist Church in November, 2021 when we were in town because of my mother's death.
I will never forget him telling the joke about a preacher visiting an elderly lady at her home. He saw some peanuts sitting on the table & helped himself to them. He told the lady that those were good tasting peanuts, but she replied, "I never eat them, I just lick the chocolate off them."
Ron and Glenda Taylor
Monday, April 10, 2023
Don was one of the first people we met when we moved to Batesville in 1984, and he and Carol were so generous to offer to let us stay with them until we could find a house and get moved. We pray for comfort during these days as you all adjust to life with his home going.
Jim Burnett
Monday, April 10, 2023
Don was a life long friend of the Burnett family and will be dearly missed. He was devoted to the Lord and it showed. He was a fine example to others.
Jim & Sabina Burnett