M. Anne Heaton Fillmore, 86, of Whitewood, SD, passed away Tuesday, September 2nd at Rapid City Monument Hospital, after a brief battle with cancer.
There will be a visitation at Kinkade Funeral Home on Monday, September 8, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, September 9, at 11 a.m. at Whitewood Presbyterian Church, 901 Laurel Street, Whitewood, SD. There will be a luncheon following the funeral at the Whitewood City (Hale) Hall. Inurnment will be held on Wednesday, Sept 10, at 10:30 a.m. at the Black Hills National Cemetery.
Anne was born March 8, 1939, at Greenville, SC, to Coy and Mitchel (Brown) Heaton. She grew up in Greenville with her brother Coy (Corky) Heaton. She graduated from Parker High school in 1957.
In 1956 she met the love of her life, John Fillmore, at Myrtle Beach. He was transferred to Japan for 2 years. Upon his returning from Japan, they married on January 11, 1959. They moved to Whitewood, SD in 1962, where she lived at her time of death. They had four daughters.
She graduated from BH State College in 1974 with a bachelor’s degree in education with a major in Arts and minor in physical education. She taught art at Spearfish Middle and High School for 20 years and loved seeing all “her kids”. She and John had several rental properties in Whitewood.
Anne lived a life full of love that she shared with everyone. She loved spending time with friends and family sharing stories and pictures. She kept busy sending out birthday, anniversary and holiday cards (and pencils and stickers) to all her friends and family. She loved being involved in her church, doing the Children’s Storytime at church, bowling, the library, 2 birthday clubs and the antique club. She enjoyed the Black Hills concert series, traveling and attending the grandkids, then the great-grandkids, sports and activities. Survivors include her brother Coy (Diane) Heaton, her daughters: Tracy (Marvin) Fillmore-Frey, Cindy (Lyle) Long, and Kim (Jim) O’Connor; 11 grandchildren: Amanda (Wade) Smith, John (Connie) Long, Lyle (Darcy) Long, Chad (Jami) Anderson, Jake (Kristi) Heidrich, Josh (Jenn) Long, Jason (Val) Anderson, Bobbi Jo (Robert) Koyama, Tiffany Skavang, Kelsey (David) Schweiterman, Garrett (Kelsey) Weber; 8 step-grandchildren: Jessica (Nate) Anderson, James (Michele) O’Connor, Jr, Kristy (Jim) White, Sean (Michelle) O’Connor, Tara O’Connor, Shanna (Russ) Martin, Stephanie Johnson, Scot Johnson and; 46 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great-grandson; an aunt; several nieces, nephews and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her parents; daughter Christy (Bob) Weber; step-grandson Andrew (AJ) Frey; father and mother-in-law, Millard and Muriel Fillmore; sister and brother-in-law, Jeanne and Lloyd Chambers and son-in-law Tom Johnson.
A memorial has been established to Whitewood Presbyterian Church and the Whitewood Public Library.