Deceased Alumni: Amy Jo Gwaldis (1972)
Date Deceased: Jan-1-2003
Age at Death: 49
Cause of Death: Long Illness
Alumni City: Elkton, MIchigan
Alumni State: MI

Amy Heiden (Gwaldis) Amy J. Heiden, 49, of Elkton, passed away on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2003, at her home after a long illness. She was born on Nov. 16, 1953 in Kingsport, Tenn., to Dorothy (Greene) Gwaldis and the late James P. Gwaldis. She was raised in the small town of Big Stone Gap, Va., deep in the mountains of southwest Virginia. She graduated from Powell Valley High School in Big Stone Gap in 1972 and attended Mountain Empire Community College. She also attended Delta College after moving to Michigan. In November 1976, she joined the U.S. Army and after training, served as a motor transport operator with the 1st Supply and Transport Battalion, 1st Infantry Division at Ft. Riley, Kan. There she met James Heiden of Elkton, who also was a truck driver and assistant platoon sergeant for the 1st S & T Battalion. They were married on March 25, 1978 in Normandy Chapel on Custer Hill at Ft. Riley. After her Army service ended in 1979, she and her husband moved to Elkton. In 1988, she began working for the Progress- Advance newspaper, later the Newsweekly, as a reporter/photographer for nine years. She freelanced stories to the Bay City Times the American Kennel Club Gazette and other publications. She later worked for the Huron Daily Tribune as an editorial assistant for five years, from 1997 until this last year when her health would not permit it. She was a member of the Elkton United Methodist Church, a former member and president of the Elkton Chamber of Commerce and a 22-year member of the Golden Retriever Club of America. She was co-chairwoman of the 1997 Elkton Centennial and 1998 Elkton AutumnFest and played a major role in organizing the festivals. She played a major part also in the production of the Elkton and Caseville Centennial family history books by typing and editing family stories. Amy's favorite activities were working in her flower gardens, reading and surfing the Internet. She enjoyed listening to a wide variety of music also. Amy enjoyed visiting with family and friends. Funeral services werel be conducted at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2003, at the Elkton United Methodist Church. The Rev. Pete Crawford will officiate with burial in Riverside Cemetery in Elkton. Visitation was from 2 to 9 p.m. Friday at the Champagne Funeral Chapel in Elkton and after noon Saturday at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Oliver Township Fire Department or Huron Memorial Hospice. Friends may sign the guest book at www.CFCelkton.com.