Lora Heard

Welcome

On behalf of the family I would like to thank you all for coming to celebrate the life of Martin Garcia. We have gathered here to praise God and to witness to our faith as we celebrate his life. We come together in grief, acknowledging our human loss. May God grant us grace, that in pain we may find comfort, in sorrow hope, in death resurrection.

Prayer

Eternal God, we praise you for the great company of all those who have finished their course in faith and now rest from their labor. We praise you for those dear to us whom we name in our hearts before you. Especially we praise you for Bobbye, whom you have graciously received into your presence. To the family and friends gathered here, grant your peace. Let you light shine on them; and help us so to believe where we have not seen, that your presence may lead us through our years, and bring us at last with them into the joy of your home not made with hands but eternal in the heavens; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Obituary

Mrs. Heard was born on September 14, 1945 in Snyder, TX to Jalette and Zelma (Ryan) Anderson. She married Mel on June  17, 1965 in Snyder, Texas. She held the position of General Manager for a business that she and Mel owned together for more than 40 years and was a member of Grace Fellowship Church.

Mrs. Lora Jo Heard, 77, of Ira,TX died on Tuesday, June 20, 2023, at her home in Ira.

She is survived by her

Husband,

Mel Heard, Ira, TX;

1 Daughter,

Andrea Velasquez and husband Pete, Ira, TX;

1 Grandson,

Jonathan Velasquez, Ira, TX

4 Sisters,

Shirley Giddens, Snyder, TX,

Barbara  Hulme, Snyder, TX,

Mary Browning, Snyder, TX,

Nelda Colvin and husband Chuck, Snyder, TX;

1 Sister In Law

Linda Jenkins, Fort Worth, TX;

and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her

Parents, Jalette and Zelma Anderson and

1 sister, Sue Butts.

Song

Lesson

Mel and Laura had great adventures together. Some were good and some were not but they always stuck it out together.

John 16:33 ESV

33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Mel and Laura new the secret to navigating the blessings and the struggles. They knew that they needed eachother to make their way through this life and they were blessed last week to celebrate 58 years of marriage and, from what I heard, it was the best anniversary. They were working toward their goal of finally walking off into the sunset together.

Her only child, Andrea, will miss her beyond measure as she was her best friend and travel buddy. Her son-in-law, Pete, was considered her son and appreciated everything he did for them. Her greatest gift was being a grandma to her only grandchild, Jonathan, who she loved more than anything and will be watching over him in his new adventures.

Psalm 127 tells us that our children and our family is a blessing from God and she knew how truly blessed she was.

She loved all her family so much and would do anything for them. She loved reading books and had quite a collection in every room of the house.

She also loved her church but most of all had complete faith in God and Jesus who she prayed to daily.

John 3:16 ESV

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Lora knew that the only way to salvation was through her relationship with Jesus and as the pastor I was blessed by her faith and faithfulness to the church. I can’t tell you how many encouraging notes and cards I have received over the past three years and like many of you I will miss her.

The hope and peace we find this day though is that as we lay Lora’s body to rest here today; we know that we will see her again when it is our time. Lora is in heaven today rejoicing with God, the creator of the universe, and she will be there to welcome us into His presence when we come face to face with God. And so let us commit her body to the ground today.

Commital

Almighty God,

into your hands we commend your daughter Lora,

in sure and certain hope of resurrection to eternal life

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

This body we commit to the ground

(to the elements, to its resting place),

earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust.                         (TRADITIONAL)

Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord.

Yes, says the Spirit, they will rest from their labors

for their deeds follow them.                        (REVELATION 14:13, ALT.)

Let us Pray

Gracious God,

we thank you for those we love but see no more.

Receive into your arms your servant Lora,

and grant that increasing in knowledge and love of you,

she may go from strength to strength

in service to your heavenly kingdom;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.