David Mark Heiner

David Mark Heiner, age 19, of Logan, Utah, died on June 18, 2008 in Charlotte, North Carolina following a drowning accident.

He was born on July 1, 1988 in Salt Lake City, Utah to his parents Vickie Edgley Heiner and Mark D. Heiner.

He moved with his family to Charlottesville, Virginia for four years and then back to Logan, Utah where he lived until his passing. David attended the Cache County schools, graduating from Sky View High School in North Logan, Utah in 2006.

David loved politics and the theories of political science. That love led him to success on the Sky View debate team and continued to serve him as he pursued his degree at Utah State University. David saw politics and government as a way to make the world better. In pursuit of this dream, David took every opportunity to serve at USU. He was elected as a board member of the Political Science Honors Society, Pi Sigma Alpha and he served on the Advisory Council for ASUSU where he organized many activities and campaigns for student government. His hard work can also be seen in the new Political Science website that he set up this last spring. David planned to take his determination and passion for politics to Washington DC in spring of 2009 to serve an internship. He anticipated that this would be a historic time and he wanted to be right in the middle of it. He was loved as an undergraduate Teaching Fellow in the Department. His ability to connect with students and convey enthusiasm for the subject made him an invaluable resource. David worked hard to help others be successful. This generosity and love of politics will live on in a scholarship fund his parents are instituting in his behalf.

David was a beautiful, positive person who loved life, himself, and others. He was incredibly generous with an infectious smile and peaceful demeanor. Amazingly kind, he demonstrated compassion in everything he did. He had a wonderful sense of humor, which was tempered by love. He would truly light up the room and could bring out the best attributes and feelings in others. He helped people through the most difficult circumstances, with open ears, a loving smile, and a calming presence. He had such a magnetic personality that people couldn't help but love him. He concerned himself with the happiness of others. His life was driven by passion and zeal that would have taken him far. This world has been so blessed to have him in it; he certainly made it better with the small and simple elements of his genuine character.

He loved movies and worked at a local movie theater in Logan as a manager where he had many great friends and fun experiences. David loved the mountains in Utah and was an avid skier and snowboarder. He enjoyed hiking/backpacking with his father as a young man and later with his college friends. He was proud of his nerdy side and loved playing video adventure games. He also loved to read and discuss philosophy with his grandfather Jay.

He is survived by his parents Mark David and Vickie Edgley Heiner of Elkin, North Carolina, his sister Rebecca Heiner, his brothers Daniel and Nathan, his grandparents Jay R. Heiner and Helen Heiner of Center Harbor, NH and Bishop Richard C. Edgley and Pauline Edgley of Centerville, UT, his great-grandmother Melba H. Shand of Salt Lake City, UT and many wonderful and loving aunts, uncles, and cousins. He is also survived by his dearest friend, Erin Cullimore of Logan, UT.

The family will be receiving friends at a viewing held at Hodges Funeral Home in Elkin, NC on Friday June 20th from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. A small service for family and close friends will be held at Hodges Funeral Home on Saturday, June 20th at 11:00. Officiating will be Bishop Richard C. Edgley of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Burial will be at Hollywood Cemetery in Elkin, NC. Services at the interment will be conducted by Rev. Ralph Delgadillo of Galloway Episcopal Church, Elkin. A public memorial service will be held on Tuesday, July 1st (David’s birthday) at 11:00 A.M at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Logan, UT.

Donations may be directed to the David M. Heiner Memorial Scholarship Fund (Utah State University Dept. of Political Science). Contact Yadkin Valley Bank (336) 526-6300 in NC care of Billie Jester. In Utah, Zion’s Bank (435) 755-9995 in care of Dan Balls.

“The pain passes, but the beauty remains.”