James D. "Big Jim" Heller's Obituary
James Davis “Big Jim” Heller, 86, was born January 16, 1931 in Dubuque, Iowa to Gerald and Jeanette Davis Heller. He passed away on April 22, 2017 at his home in Longview.
His degree was in chemistry from the University of Dubuque and his career was spent at the Texas Eastman Kodak Company for 30 years. While serving in the United States Air Force he flew recon missions in Japan and Korea as a bombardier on a B-29 and as a navigator on a B-26.
He loved the outdoors, especially hunting Elk in Colorado for 40 years. He enjoyed being creative making jewelry and had a booth at Alley Art Festival for many years, but he was really known best for growing some of the best tomatoes in East Texas. You could drive by his home and see him working his nearly 100 tomato plants each year and if you were one of the lucky ones you got to eat some. He treated his friends and family with those tasty things for years.
He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Earline Heller; son, James Garner Heller of Longview; daughter, Kathryn Zwick of Kilgore; grandson, Jeff Heller and wife, Brenna of Charlotte, NC; granddaughter, Holly and husband Brandon Kindt of Charleston, SC and granddaughter, Lauren Gibler of Dallas; His sister, Janet Sheppley of Mill Creek, WA and his brother, Bill Schiele and wife, Darlene of Orange Beach, AL and numerous nieces and nephews.
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