Doris Margie (Heidebrecht) Pillow

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Doris Margie Pillow, who entered into eternal rest just after midnight on August 7, 2024, in Cottonwood, Arizona. Born on October 12, 1929, in Corn, Oklahoma. Doris was a woman of extraordinary warmth, kindness, and grace, embodying the true spirit of motherhood throughout her life. Her deep faith in God was stunningly visible by her love for others, gentle spirit, and abounding joy.

Doris was 94 years when she passed. She lived independently until her final months when she transitioned to be cared for and live with her daughters who devoted themselves to ensuring her comfort and peace. She spent her final months in good mental health, watching hummingbirds visit a feeder outside of her window and solving Wordle problems with fewer tries than her offspring.

Doris’s life was filled with remarkable experiences. She lived in her twenties on a houseboat in California, traveled through almost every state of the Union, and journeyed to distant places like Germany and Switzerland. For 18 treasured years, she lived and worked in the Grand Canyon, a place of special significance for both her and her family. Her adventurous spirit and love for nature will forever be remembered by those who knew her.

She will be laid to rest in the Grand Canyon Pioneer Cemetery on the South Rim of the National Park, where she will be reunited with her beloved spouse. Doris will be one of the last individuals to be interred in this historic and majestic location. It brings great comfort to her family and friends to know that such a beautiful soul will find eternal peace in a place of such breathtaking natural beauty.

Doris was preceded in death by her parents, Curtis and Mary Heidebrecht, and her spouse, Melvin A. Pillow, her one and only life-long love. She is survived by her loving sons and daughters, David (& Cheree) Pillow, Diane (& Marvin) Bear, Laura (& John) Ludvick, Steven (& Ditza) Pillow, and Glen Pillow, her step-daughter, Jozeffa Greer (& David Deckman), and her brother, Gary (& Sally) Heidebrecht. She had 5 children, 10 grandchildren (Michael, Amanda, Garry, Wyatt, Jonathan, Nathaniel, Alicia, Amy, James, and Jerome), and 12 great-grandchildren (Cody, Tristen, Isabella, Isaac, Timothy, Ava, Emma, Zara, Euna, Iya, Liam, and Roman). Her kindness, generosity, and loving spirit will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her.

A public church service will be held on August 15 at 2:00 PM at Verde Valley Community Church in the chapel. She will be laid to rest at the Grand Canyon Pioneer Cemetery. Flowers may be sent to church on either August 14th or 15th. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in her memory to one of the following: the Audubon Society, the National Park Foundation, or the Cardiovascular Research Foundation.  

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