Doloras A. Heims

Doloras Angela (Terry) Heims b. 01/30/1953; d. 06/27/2024 Doloras was born at Shenandoah Hospital, Roanoke, Virginia. Her deceased parents were Denny Plany Terry and Beatrice Ethel (Davis) Terry. Doloras died of cardiac arrest June 27, 2024 approximately at 5 p.m. after rescue efforts from Dr’s at Roanoke Memorial Hospital following a 911 call. Survivors are her 3 sons, Joshua, Wesley and Mackenzie Heims. She has 4 grandchildren: Nicky, Jocelynn, Charlotte and Ford Heims. She has one sister, Junie Patricia (Terry) Balough of Jurupa Valley, California and one foster sister Linda (Maddoux) Stanley; Roanoke, VA. She has 6 surviving nieces: Jaycie Cirieco, Faith Hemenway, Wendy Dawson, Samantha Mason, Stephanie Morgan and Cathleen Goodell. There are 5 nephews; Denny and Daniel Terry, Thomas, Joseph and Dennis “Terry” Balough. There are 8 grand nephews; Kenny Cirieco, Anthony, Tim, Luke and Levi “Balough”, Dillon and Trevor Dawson. There are 8 grandnieces; Katelyn Cirieco, Camille Dawson, Kaitlyn and Jennifer Goodell, Gabriel, Tatum, Athena and Roselynn Balough. She has one Aunt, Charlotte Bellflowers. There are many cousins since Doloras’s parents had a total of 11 siblings; lots of God’s love is grown on this Tree of Life.   Doloras was nicknamed Dee Dee by her nieces and nephews as it was difficult at a young age for pronunciation; therefore, this name stayed with her throughout her life as an endearment. She graduated from Golden West College in Huntington Beach, California acquiring a position as Legal Secretary to a private Lawyer. Returning to Virginia with her husband Donald Dale Heims, she began building their home and family of 3 sons in Wirtz, VA. After her husband's death, she returned to the labor force working at a local restaurant in Rocky Mount, to assist the needs and finances of a growing family. From there she became a construction worker wearing a hard hat, safety shoes and using tools the same as men. She was determined to support her family. Lee Jr High School had been demolished; in its place was a Federal Government building which Dee Dee helped build. Once completed, she processed an application becoming court clerk in that Government building that she just helped build from ground up; elevating her job position until she became Private Legal Secretary to a Judge. Eventually, the workers transferred to a different location across town closer to the train station and airport. Doloras worked diligently for this particular judge; meeting many lawyers, always prompt in court, always prepared, excelling in every way. She experienced a stroke at work and other successive strokes in years to come which was the beginning of her long suffering illness. Eventually she retired with accolades of achievement and her judge was devastated, eventually taking an early retirement. Doloras was so efficient that it took 10 girls to replace her efforts at work. She was always intellectual, accountable, remarkable, dependable, irreplaceable and the one person to instill or create happiness wherever it was needed.   All through her life and in her later years, she loved gardening; planting many varieties of flowers; cannons, honeysuckle, gardenia, jasmin, roses of every color, crepe myrtle and fruit trees. Her latest passion this spring was peonies, zinnias, wildflowers, morning glories, tulips, irises, gladiolas, amaryllis, lavender and Christmas cactus. She kept the bird feeder full of seed and sweet nectar for the hummingbirds. By her side and feet and lap was her favorite, lovely white Pomeranian, Dottie.Doloras’s Celebration of Life Service will be held at Church of God of Prophecy, Water of Life, 1616 Wise Ave., S.E., Roanoke, VA. at 12 p.m. August 25, 2024. Pastor don Shepherd, Dee Dee's cousin, will be guidance in the church service and has been her spiritual guide to her soul for the life of Jesus Christ.Following the ceremony, there will be a Celebration of Life Memories and gathering potluck at the home of her sister, Pat Balough, 2214 West Wind Rd, Fincastle, VA 24090. It will begin at approximately 2 p.m. - 8 p.m. or later. Everyone is invited! Come share your stories and memories of Dee Dee; Celebrate her life to the fullest.