Christopher P. Heard

Christopher Pryor “Chris” Heard, 68, died of cancer at Alive Hospice in Nashville on August 30, 2022.  He was born April 29,1954 in Ruston, Louisiana, to Anne Baker Heard and the late George Taylor Heard.  In addition to his mother, he leaves his wife of 26 years, Susan Herbers Heard, step-daughter Karen Clabough, sister Paula Heard Pardue, brothers Gary and Dennis Heard, and the large extended Herbers family he embraced as his own. He also leaves his orange cat Buddy (named for O.K. “Buddy” Davis) and his lifelong friend Jan Briscoe.

Chris attended Ruston High School and served in the US Army and was a Purple Heart battle veteran.  Most of his working life was spent as a seaman responsible for feeding crews on commercial and military ships.  He lived for a time in Germany and traveled the world, relishing his experiences and mingling easily with those of other languages and cultures. Chris and Susan lived in Tennessee, Florida and Georgia before moving recently to Costa Rica.

To tell Chris’s story would take a book. He was truly an original. He was an excellent cook and an entertaining storyteller who loved fishing, golf and music, especially blues. He idolized Sandy Koufax and was a compendium of baseball knowledge which he shared with Susan, who became an avid fan of the game. Chris spoke often and fondly about his teammates and games played during his youth. 

His life can best be celebrated by treating others with kindness and respect or by donating to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Big Cat Rescue in Tampa, or Alive Hospice in Nashville.

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