Frank Emil Heard

1914 — 2013

Frank E. Heard passed peacefully from this life on his 99th birthday. Frank resided at St. John’s Retirement Village in Woodland at the time of his passing.

Frank was born in Zamora to Hugh and Meta Heard and lived most of his life in Woodland. As a high school student, Frank was elected the first president of the local chapter of the Future Farmers of America, which was the beginning of his many years of community leadership positions.

From there Frank joined the Order of DeMolay and went all the way “through the chairs” to become master councilor. It was through the Order of DeMolay that he became acquainted with Joe Motroni who hired Frank at age 18 to be the bookkeeper and sales person for the J.G. Motroni Mill and Lumber Co. Frank eventually became a partner in the lumber company and it was renamed the Motroni/Heard Lumber Co.

On March 1, 1936, Frank married the love of his life, Isabell Kram, who preceded him in death in 1999.

In 1949 Frank was elected to the City Council and in 1951, he was elected mayor of Woodland. He was re-elected mayor in 1954 and again in 1956. Frank was a member of the board of the League of California Cities and President of the Northern California Lumber Merchants Association in 1959 and 1960.

He also served on the board of directors and the executive committee of the National Retail Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association. Frank was very active in the Woodland Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary and was a member of the Odd Fellows. Frank was instrumental in the planning and building of St. John’s Retirement Village and served on the Board of Directors there for 35 years.

Frank and his wife Isabell relocated to Tahoe Keys in South Lake Tahoe in 1979. Frank was a productive member of the community there and a very active member of both the Architectural Committee and the Yacht Club of Tahoe Keys.

Frank is survived by his three children, Lorine Paxton of Saratoga, Carol Marks of Rancho Murieta, and Stanley Heard of Portland, Ore.; his daughter-in-law, Mary Margaret Phillips of Portland, Ore.; grandchildren Scott Marks, Kristin De Baldo, Christopher Marks, Michelle Demeny and Kristia Larrabee; and six great-grandchildren.

Frank will be remembered fondly and missed by so many people who had the good-fortune to have known him. He was well-respected in both his personal and professional life. Frank was patient, kind, respectful, and a great listener. He approached life and all of its challenges with a quiet dignity that was admired by his friends and family. Frank was a great man, a role model, and a hero to many. He will be greatly missed.

Services will begin at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23, at St. John’s United Church of Christ, 434 Cleveland St. in Woodland, with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Frank’s memory to St. John’s Retirement Village, Yolo Hospice, or the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.