Barbara Jean Heckenkemper

Barbara Jean Bradley Heckenkemper, one of Tulsa’s local veterans and true superstars was promoted to the BIG leagues on December 2, 2015. A lifelong Tulsa resident, she started life too many years ago for her to want anyone to count, born the daughter of Eulalia and Arch Bradley. More than 63 years ago, she married William J. “Bill” Heckenkemper in February 1952. As a young married woman, she chose one of the hardest professions in life, being a mother. Their family soon grew from just the two of them, to eight; and then nine, when her widowed mother lived with the family for nearly 30 years. Survived by her best friend and husband, Bill. She is also survived by the ones that brought her the greatest joy in the last several years of her life, living vicariously through her 11 great-grandchildren: Madelyn, Ethan, Merrin, Lillian, Ashton, Owen, Greyson, Jack, Luke, Ben and A.J.; her by 13 grandchildren: Max, Allison, Ryan, J.P., Will, Kate, Kristen, Thomas, Scott, Meredith, Kymberli, Grant and Cole; and all of their parents: Brad and his wife DeAnn, Keith and his wife Marianne, Randy and his wife Patty, Jeff, and Mary Ritchie and her husband Tom, all living in Tulsa. As a grandmother she quickly adopted the title of “GG” and now few except her oldest of friends remember her real name. However, she was quick to point out that GG meant “Gorgeous Grandma” Barbara was predeceased by both her daughter, Kathy; and Kathy's husband, Jim; her parents; her sisters, JoAnn and Betty; and her brothers, Norton and Jim. Barbara was an intelligent and educated woman (matched only by her smartest child, Brad), who ran the family household. She instilled in her children the importance of a great education as the foundation for a successful life, and bestowed on them her quick wit, charm, and respect for all people. Truly she was a very loving person with a strong personality, sass, and spunk. She had her own opinions and on occasion could be a bit stubborn. She didn’t suffer anyone acting stupidly, and if you did she could literally hurt you with her killer, patented “eye roll”. For as long as she and Bill were married there was always another family event, which she insisted on hosting. Each occasion usually began with a family dinner she prepared, and she was an excellent cook. During the last few years, as her grandchildren blessed her with great grandchildren, it was routine for 40 or more family members to celebrate the most important family holidays. She was a person the entire City of Tulsa can be proud of as her energy, time and talents were shared with many causes and organizations that were important both to her and the family. You could count on her to be involved with many, many groups and organizations in Tulsa as her contribution to making the City a better place; but especially Christ the King Church, Marquette Grade School, Bishop Kelley High School, Meals on Wheels, St. John Hospital Auxiliary, St. Charles Guild and many more. She didn’t’ have many hobbies besides the grandchildren and great grandchildren, but she did love playing bridge and all of the women in the bridge club. She is a role model for us to follow, not only in being better people, but to be more productive and sharing as citizens of Tulsa. She will be deeply missed by her family and the organizations she supported. She was the greatest Mom ever! A Holy Rosary will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, December 4th at Christ the King Church. A Roman Catholic Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Christ the King Church, 12 Noon, on Saturday, December 5th. FITZGERALD IVY CHAPEL 918-585-1151