Dr. James Richard Hefner

Dr. James Richard Hefner, 85, passed away on May 12, 2020, in Amarillo, Texas.

James Richard Hefner was born in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, on August 16, 1934, to Don Merwyn Hefner and Edna Ruth Eakin Hefner. He was the oldest of three children, big brother to Carol Ann Hefner (Newberry) and Don Robert Hefner. His father, mother, brother Bob, and son Mark have preceded him in death. Jim lived in Bartlesville most of his younger life, with the exception of a few years during which his family lived in Phillips, TX. He graduated from College High in Bartlesville in 1953 and in the family tradition, attended Oklahoma State University, intending to become an engineer like his father. He joined Kappa Sigma Fraternity and was a lifelong member. He joined the ROTC and following his graduation proudly served as a lieutenant in the US Army, stationed in Korea. In 1959 he returned to civilian life and once again attended OSU to prepare for medical school. While there he met and married Lucille Katherine Stewart and they had three children: Dawn Katherine, Todd Stewart, and Mark Richard Hefner (now deceased).

He attended the University of Oklahoma Medical School and following his internship and residency in anesthesia, he began practicing at All Saints Hospital, Cook's Children's Hospital, and at Huguely Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas, where he remained until 1992. At that time he moved to Amarillo where he practiced at Anthony's Hospital, then at BSA, until 2013.

In 1979 he married Betty Ann Vickers Hyer and became the stepfather of Gregory Lewis Hyer and Leigh Ann Hyer.

A lifelong Presbyterian, he grew up in the First Presbyterian Church in Bartlesville. In Fort Worth, he was a member of St. Francis Presbyterian Church and frequently served as elder and Clerk of the Session. Here in Amarillo, he also served as elder and Clerk of the Session of St. Luke and was active in the life of this congregation.

He is survived by his wife Ann Hefner, children Dawn Hefner Cleveland and Todd Hefner, stepchildren Greg Hyer and Leigh Hyer Nager, seven grandchildren, one stepgrandchild, and three great-grandchildren.

A service of Witness to the Resurrection will take place in his honor at 11 A.M. on Saturday, May 14, 2022, at St. Luke Presbyterian Church.