Vivian Irene Heeter, 79, of rural South Whitley, died peacefully in the company of family at 11:33 a.m. Tuesday, February 28, 2023 at Parkview Randallia, Fort Wayne.

Born on March 27, 1943, in Warsaw, Indiana, she was a daughter of the late Howard and Nina (Norman) Murphy.  She completed Beaver Dam Elementary and graduated from Akron High School.

For the past 38 years, she had lived with her companion and best friend Samuel F. Grant in rural South Whitley.

Through the years, she had worked for Pizza Hut, Columbia City as a member of their initial employees, then drove school bus for the Whitko Schools and completed her work career at Dwyer Instruments in South Whitley.

At home she liked to tend her flower beds, care for the lawn, and enjoy the wildlife.  She followed IU Basketball, the NASCAR series cheering on her favorite driver Kyle Bush or opposing the team her friends and family were favoring.

Eager to help the area residents, she volunteered at One Community, South Whitley serving meals and comradery.  In her quiet time she read romance novels, assembled jigsaw puzzles and watched her favorite show – The Waltons.

Surviving is her companion, Sam Grant of South Whitley, daughters Bonita S. Yates and Cheri Heeter, both of South Whitley; a granddaughter, Hope Yates of South Whitley, brothers, Lawrence Murphy of Alabama, Donald (Susie) Murphy of South Whitley and Morris (Jane) Murphy of Akron; sisters, Patricia (Randy) Hollar of Rochester, Kathy Metzger of North Manchester, and Gloria Jean Cooper of Talma.

She was preceded in death by a grandson, Ryne Robert Yates; brothers Robert and Michael Murphy and sisters, Francis Adams and Rosalee Bernhard.

The funeral service is 3 p.m. Saturday at Smith & Sons Miller Chapel, South Whitley.  Burial is at the South Whitley Cemetery.  Visitation is 1 p.m. until the funeral service Saturday at the funeral home.

Memorials in Vivian's honor are to One Community, South Whitley.