Denvard D. Heasley was born May 3, 1939, in Glencoe, Arkansas. He passed away at the age of 84 in Springfield, Missouri.
Denvard grew up in Salem, Arkansas where the family had no indoor plumbing until he was in High School. He lost his left hand at age 9 while cleaning out a blasting cap to make a whistle. Denvard kept busy after high school hanging and finishing drywall. He earned his license to sell insurance, and sold fences for Carnahan White Fence Company after moving to Springfield, Missouri in the mid 1960’s. He met Clara “Ellen” Barnes and married in 1968.
After a vehicle accident the family moved to Hermitage, Missouri in 1977 where he learned how to make artificial limbs and purchased the business. Denvard received an associate degree by attending night classes at Drury College while working at the limb company during the day and Ellen worked at Consumers Grocery on weekends. Ellen kept the books for him at the limb company. He also was a Dale Carnagie Course graduate and an assistant for several classes.
Denvard then received his prosthetic certification from Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois. They moved Kessler-Heasley Artificial Limb Company to Ozark, Missouri and renamed the business, Ozark Prosthetics. They served the amputee community until they sold the business in early 2000.
Denvard was a lifelong member of the Church of Christ. He served in many roles in the local churches.
He was very involved in Boy Scouts as Assistant Scoutmaster of Troop 201 in Ozark, MO. He also served on staff of several Wood Badge courses and driver to many, many campouts. There is a total of 8 Eagle Scouts in the family. Denvard enjoyed traveling to countries such as Italy, Greece, and Europe and especially around the United States with “The Spooners” Church RV group.
In 2016 Denvard married Janice Crosby of Springfield,MO. The time was short, but Janice filled his remaining years with doting love.
Denvard could fix anything, and I mean anything. He understood mechanical, electrical, and plumbing which he used to make parts out of metal, wood, or a part of something else that had nothing to do with what he was fixing. What he built was made to last a very long time. Some memorable items were a trailer he made from scratch and turned wood logs into beautiful pens and bowls. He could sharpen a blade to razor sharp and rig up a contraption to change a lightbulb that was 15 feet in the air. I am certain that dad will be on the maintenance crew in Heaven!
Denvard is preceded in death by his parents, John Ervin Heasley and Vivian Gilmore Heasley, sister Lodilla Heasley Burkhead, brothers Deward and Delson along with his wife Clara “Ellen” Barnes Heasley.
Survivors include wife Janice Crosby Heasley, son Damon and wife Robin King, Grandchildren Sierra, Justin and wife Kenzie Wandrei Heasley, Ty, Son Dwight and wife Dallas Burch Heasley, Grandchildren Riley, Jake, Cooper and Sutton along with many, many, many nieces and nephews.
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