Brenda Ann Heilman, 70, of Slater, MO, died Sunday, March 30, 2025, at University Hospital and Clinics in Columbia.

Funeral services will be held at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, April 3, 2025, at Campbell-Lewis Chapel in Marshall with William W. Harlow officiating.  Burial will follow in Sunset Gardens Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home.  Memorials are suggested to Slater Public Schools and an online guestbook is available at www.campbell-lewis.com.

Born December 29, 1954, in Boonville, MO, she was the daughter of the late Walter Newman Swearingen II and Mary Ellen Miller.  On October 21, 1971, she married Donald Joseph “Donnie” Heilman who survives of the home.  In her younger years she worked as a waitress and then for many years at Kraft Foods in Marshall.  Brenda went to Missouri Valley College and graduated at the age of 54 with a bachelor’s degree in education.  She then worked for several years at Slater Public Schools.

In addition to her husband, Donnie; she is survived by two daughters, Teresa Doyscher (Joel) of Volga, SD and Tracy Grey (Bryan) of Belleville, IL; seven grandchildren: Olivia, Jesse, Daniel, Camron, Izzy, Logan and Lilly; one great-grandson, Oliver; one sister, Debbie Franks (Dan) of Republic; one brother, Walter “Corky” Swearingen (Penny) of Springfield; her stepmother, Mary Lou Swearingen of Sunrise Beach; a half-brother, Jerry Lee Swearingen of Sunrise Beach; as well as many nieces, nephews and other extended family.