Robert Paul Heft

1955 - 2011

On Sunday, Jan. 2, 2011, Robert Paul Heft left this world surrounded by his loving family and friends after a brief, but intense battle with cancer. Celebration of life: 1 p.m. Thursday at Wiley Funeral Home. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Memorials: In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Robert Heft Scholarship Fund, in care of Masonic Lodge 392, 1700 Weatherford Highway, Granbury, Texas 76048, or to the Community Hospice of Texas, 1208 W. Henderson St., Suite B, Cleburne, Texas 76033. Robert was born Sept. 15, 1955, to Clarence Paul Heft and Adriana Helena De Melker Heft in Pittsburgh, Pa. The family moved to Houston 10 years later. In reference to his height and girth, Robert was fond of saying that he came to Texas and his family followed shortly. Robert completed his education in Houston by graduating from Bellaire High School in 1973. An accomplished French horn player, he went on to earn a bachelor of arts at North Texas State University, now the University of North Texas, in 1978. Robert's attention turned to electronics as he completed an associate degree from Tarrant County College and a master of arts in industrial technology from East Texas State University in the early 1990s. In 1987, Robert began his career at General Dynamics, now Lockheed-Martin, where he worked for 23 years. In 1999, Robert married his best friend and love of his life, Ellen Rebecca "Becky" Shannon. They moved to Granbury to their dream house with enough land for Robert's eclectic collections of tractors and animals. Robert was a generous man always willing to lend a helping hand to move his friends and family, fix their vehicles or provide a listening ear. His wit and humor were always present from the word quips to showing up for his niece's high school graduation in overalls and a straw hat. Robert was a member of the Hood County Amateur Radio Operators. He was a senior warden for Masonic Lodge 392. Robert loved to be outdoors as he hunted and fished, worked in his shop and rode his motorcycles. His love of motorcycling took him on memorable trips with friends. He and Becky were part of the Cowtown Flyers as they pursued their love of Harley-Davidson motorcycles. His collection of tractors was enjoyed by all as he rode them in parades and cut the grass for folks who needed his help. Robert was a connoisseur of the unique, be it people or things. His loving ways and gentle nature are his legacy. During his childhood, his mother would remark that we can't lose him, because we won't get any more. Robert was preceded in death by his father, Clarence Paul. Survivors: Loving wife, Becky; stepdaughter, Karen Elizabeth Krause of New Orleans; mother, Helen of Austin; sister, Kathi Heft-Flint and her husband, Ron, of Austin; niece, Elizabeth Flint of Austin; many nieces and nephews, by marriage and by friendship; and numerous friends.