Dorothy Louise “Dorie” Dunning Kaufman Heckman, 66, of Russell, PA. went home to her Lord and Savior, Saturday morning, December 24, 2011 at the John and Orpha Blair Hospice Home, Warren, PA. after an illness since October 2011. She was born August 8, 1945 in Pittsburgh, PA. to the late Charles S. and Ruth Hayes Dunning. Dorie grew up in Penn Hills and graduated with high honors from Penn Hills High School and with Distinction from Otterbein College in Westerville, OH with a degree in Elementary Education. She taught for 12 years in Westerville, OH, Kindergarten for in Holiday Park, PA. and was the Center Director of the Penn Hill Kinder Care Learning Centers for 13 years. After retiring, she drove a van for special needs students and in 1999 she worked as the Administrative Assistant for the Western PA Prison Outreach Ministry where she also volunteered in leading a weekly Bible study in Spanish in the Federal prison. She was a member of the Akeley United Methodist Church and a former member of the Holiday Park United Methodist Church of Plum Borough, PA.

She enjoyed boating, skiing, reading, genealogy, sewing, camping and working on the computer to prepare power point presentations and web pages. Served on many local church committees and several Conference Teams and as a Certified Lay

Speaker and pianist. She presented a monologue of her great-great grandmother portraying life of a Circuit Rider’s family in her “Journey Through Methodist History” in PA., MD, DE, VA, and MN Methodist Churches where her ancestors had served as pastors. She was a women of strong faith and values, which made a great partner in her husband’s ministry.

She is survived by her husband of 27 years, Rev. David T. Heckman, Pastor of the Russell and Akeley United Methodist Churches, whom she married in 1984, 2 Daughters – Tracy S. Kaufman and her husband, Steven Cassidy of Dublin, OH., Sherry L. Conrad and her husband, Sean of Steubenville, OH., 1 Step Daughter – Michelle Heckman Corna and husband, Eric of Vandergrift, PA., 5 Grandchildren – Nick Ruefle, Megan and Mark Cassidy, Delaney Colder and Kaitlyn Conrad, 1 Cousin – Robert Dunning Weaver of Auburn, CA.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her Step Mother – Charlotte Gay Dunning, her 1st Husband, Keith Kaufman whom she married in 1966.

Friends may call at the Donald E. Lewis Funeral Home, Inc., 304 East Street, Warren, PA. on Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 P.M. A funeral service will be conducted Thursday at 11:00 A.M. in First United Methodist Church, 200 Market St, Warren, with Rev. Tom Strandburg, District Superintendent of the United Methodist Western Conference, officiating. Additionally, friends will be received in Pittsburgh at Holiday Park United Methodist Church, 81 Sandune Drive, Plum Borough, PA. on Friday from 11:00 A.M. until 1:00 P.M. when a funeral service will be conducted with Rev. Joel Garrett, Pastor, officiating. Interment will be in Restland Memorial Park, Monroeville, PA. In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorial contributions may be made to the Prison Outreach Ministry, P.O. Box 601, Russell, PA. 16345. The Donald E. Lewis Funeral Home, Inc., 304 East Street, Warren, PA. is in charge of funeral arrangements. Those wishing to submit e-mail condolences may do so by visiting www.lewisfuneralhomeinc.com