Mazie Marie Heath
1923 – 2022
Mazie Marie Heath was born March 9, 1923, in Boonville, MO, the only child of Moody and Edna Haley. She passed away on July 25, 2022, at the age of 99. She lived at The Veraden in Edmond, OK, the last 5 years of her life, where she had many friends and compassionate caregivers.
Mazie was a small, vivacious child who loved spending time on her grandparent’s farm. At the young age of 6 she contracted Bovine Tuberculosis from drinking unpasteurized cow’s milk. She spent a year in the Shriner’s Hospital in Chicago, IL, much of that time in a full body cast. And during that time there was rare opportunity to see her mother, as money for travel was scarce.
The disease destroyed the ball and socket of her left hip, but nothing could destroy her determination. The doctors had said she would never walk, but she did everything the other kids did and then some, walking up on her toes of that foot. (Built up shoes were ugly!) She especially loved to swim and dance. As a young woman everyone was awed by her dancing, and she would win jitterbug contests at local dances.
In 1944 Mazie met a handsome, red-haired Coast Guardsman, Harrison Heath, who was a boat tending the MO River. In fact, they met at a dance. They were soon married and were forever devoted to each other. He was the love of her life. Harrison preceded her in death in 2011, and she never quit missing him.
In 1946, they had a daughter, Pam, who was their pride and joy. Mazie fooled everyone again, as she was told she would never have children. She was a talented seamstress and everything she made she made to perfection. Mazie made sure Pam was always beautifully dressed from the time she was a little girl all the way through high school and college.
She was a devoted Nana to her grandchildren, Diana and Heath, and her four great-grandson’s Blake, Dillon, Tyler, and Nick. How fortunate she was to watch all her great-grandsons grow to be such fine young men. Mazie loved children, and she was much like a grandmother to her former neighbor’s boys, Trey and Delbert. If she had had the educational opportunity, she would have made a wonderful teacher.
In her later years Mazie loved to gamble. She was a skilled poker player, both at the tables and on the machines. If you took her to Vegas, it was guaranteed that she would be the last one to bed and she almost always won money.
She loved people and people loved her. She was always interested in stories about them and their children. And if you told her something of personal interest, she would not forget. She had will, determination, and spunk, and anyone that knew Harrison and Mazie will always remember seeing them walking hand and hand.
Mazie is survived by her devoted daughter and son-in-law, Pam and Lou Vovk, granddaughter Diana Giles (Steve), grandson Heath Douglas (Candace), great-grandson’s Blake Giles (Tanna), Dillon Giles, Tyler Douglas, and Nick Douglas, as well as numerous nieces and nephews whom she dearly loved.
She requested no service, but if you wish donations can be made in her memory at https://www.shrinerschildrens.org. A photo tribute to Mazie can been seen on YouTube, search “A Tribute to Mazie Heath.” Her family would much appreciate you sharing your memories and stories of Mazie below.