Tributes

How do you summarize a man like Olan Wayne Heathcock, or as we would say, the original Big Poppy. He was born on August 28, 1964, to Olan Heathcock and Betty Jean Heathcock of Mansfield, TX. Right from the beginning, you could tell that Wayne was going to be something special. He overcame so many obstacles in his life that would have crushed a weaker man, but it forged the man that many called a friend. Wayne was a passionate man, which could be heard the moment he entered a room. He commanded attention with his larger-than-life personality and the fact he had never met a stranger, which served him well in the business world. He was a sales machine; he could work any room and find a way to enter your heart, and “no” wasn't an option. From selling signs to businesses to managing million-dollar mergers and custom technology solutions for companies, he found joy in pursuing what you valued, and he strived to be the person that could fulfill that value. At home, he had many roles and titles as well, such as beloved husband to his high school sweetheart Robyn for 38 years. They partnered together during many different seasons of life, from the early moments of being the sole provider outside the house to the later moments in life after his motorcycle accident, where he partnered with Robyn on the home front and returned to his love of technology to help build custom products to support her growing business. More recently, he was excited to be brought on the team of a private equity group. He wore the title of Dad well to Mandey, Brad, and Tiffany, and later to be joined by Tim, Courtney, and Josh after they married into the family. There was nothing besides being Robyn’s husband that brought him more joy than this title and the responsibility that went with fatherhood. He coached them in sports, shouted from the sidelines, and recorded everything, literally everything from the stands. His kids were a constant source of pride. He was so excited to share how each one was conquering the world in their own way. I think it was because he changed their “starting place.” He was determined not to let his kids go through what he did and strived to provide that in as many ways as he could and succeeded in doing so. There was never as big of an encourager as Wayne. He had a way of taking the simplest of your victories and turning them into monumental milestones. He could breathe life into your relationship in a second. He allowed his passion for life to flow through his words. While the source of those words may cease, their impact will continue as we reread texts, listen to the audio notes, and reflect on the things he has written and spoken to us over the years. His relationship with faith has grown and changed from the early years as he was on a path to become a church of Christ preacher to the story of the powerful moment that the Holy Spirit changed his spiritual life while on a sales trip. God used the owner of a back woods woodworker to upend his world. It was a God-ordained moment that would change not only his life but his family's. Many of you can recall moments with tear-filled eyes he would pray for you or speak a word over you, or even maybe you were the recipient of a God moment through Wayne. He found many ways to serve in the church, from preaching and teaching, to leading volunteer teams, writing discipleship pathways, and even finding ways to include technology and automation into the church world. He and Robyn currently attend Glory of Zion in Corinth. He was an over-the-top grandparent, and it's where the name Poppy comes from. It started as his Grandparent name for Presleah, Paityn, and Olivia, but soon became his family identity. Just shy of 9 years ago, that title was claimed, and he worked hard to try to outdo Nana. He was the typical grandparent who took spoiling to a new level on every trip we took. He wanted to take them on new experiences every time we were together but obviously couldn't do that without a souvenir or shopping trip first. Each one of the current three have been prayed for, spoken over, and loved on, but also any that come later because he often spoke of the legacy he would leave through his kids, so He and Robyn prayed spouses in and regularly prayed for the “what is to come” for each of them. Wayne loved to play games, wait correction Wayne loved to win games. No matter what he played, it was for keeps. The family game of choice was 42, and many hours were spent around the table with a handful of dominoes. More recently, he rekindled his love for the outdoors with hunting and fishing. He even had family hunting and fishing trips on the book for the summer and fall. Coming from a meager beginning, he had an eye for the finer things in life. He always wanted the best; whether that was suits, cars, home decor, or accessories, he wanted to send a message when he entered the scene. Those humble beginnings also made him ingenious. He never found a need he couldn't meet with something from around the house or garage. Tow straps, bungee cords, duct tape and ropes were always within arm's reach to solve any problem he encountered. Now, because you never knew what could come up, he always came with a bag full of “supplies” some lovingly called it his “murse” or “man purse” he called it essential, but he was already ready. Wayne’s family, Audrey, Patty, and the late sister Carol were so important to him, and he tried to love and support them in anyway that he felt he could. Wayne passed from this world to the next on December 17, 2022. While he may be absent from our lives, he will never leave our hearts and memories. The world now has a Wayne-sized hole no one will ever be able to fill. Visitation will be held 12:00PM-1:00PM, Thursday, December 22, 2022 at Slay Memorial Chapel in Aubrey, TX and the funeral service will begin at 1:00PM with Tim Puckett officiating. Interment will follow at Roselawn Memorial Park in Denton, TX. Online condolences may be shared at www.slaymemorialfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Terri Slay and Slay Memorial Funeral Center.

Tributes

Olan Wayne Heathcock

August 28, 1964 - December 17, 2022