ALAN HEIRMAN
Alan Heirman, age 77 of Albany, passed away Monday, Jan. 8, 2024. Funeral services will be held at2:00p.m.Thursday,Jan. 11 at the Albany Methodist Church with Rev. Tim Trimble and Rev. Danny Houze officiating. Interment will follow in the Albany Cemetery under the direction of Morehart Mortuary.
Alan Leo Heirman was born Nov. 5, 1946 in Abilene, TexastoLeoAlphonse Heirman and Lucile Elizabeth Gravens Heirman. Upon graduating from Hondo High School, Alan went on to earn his Bachelor of Science Degree from Abilene Christian College and then his Master of Science Degree from Texas TechUniversity.Heearned double majors from both institutions in Animal Science and Range Management.
On July 26, 1969, he married the love of his life, Mary Louise Brubaker in Abilene. Alan worked as a Wildlife Biologist for the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service for 36 years.
The Heirman family moved toAlbany fromAbilene 40 years ago, and they wereactivemembersofthe AlbanyMethodistChurch. Alan was also a member of the Kiwanis Club, Fort Griffin FandangleAssociation, and the Texas Section Society for Range Management. Alan was very active in his community in many aspects. He was a co- founder of the Bobwhite Brigade, co-founder of theAlbany Girls Softball Association, founder of ShackelfordCountyRange and Wildlife Association, andvolunteerednumerous hours guiding hunts for Disability Resources Inc. and Children’s Miracle Network Hospital. He also mentored youth in Shackelford County 4-H and Albany FFA. He was an avid Albany Lion fan and attended all football games up until his health declined. He was proud to live long enough to see the Lions win back-to-back State Championships.
He was a leading pioneer of prescribed burning in the 1970s and later introduced prescribed burning to Shackelford County ranchers where it flourished. At the time of hisretirementfromNRCS, he had recorded 404 prescribed burns which is the most for the state of Texas and a record that will be hard to break.
Alan earned several awards in his life and career including: Soil Conservationist of the Year, Outstanding Leader in Fire Ecology, and the HonoraryLoneStarFarmer Degree. His highest achievement in life was his four grandchildren that he referred to as his ornery monkeys. Alan would like to be remembered as a “Simple man, simple life.”
Mr. Heirman was preceded in death by his father, Leo Heirman, and hisgrandparentsJohnand Frances Gravens.
Mr. Heirman is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Mary Heirman of Albany; two daughters, Michelle Kayga and husband Stephen of Albany, Jennifer Meador and husband Casey of Abilene; his mother Lucile Heirman of Abilene; three siblings, Bobby Heirman, Roger Heirman, Frances Ann Gardner, all of Abilene; and four grandchildren, BlaineAlanKayga,Brooke Hope Kayga, Aubrey Renae Meador, and Shaylee Casey Meador.
Memorialsmaybemade to the Texas Brigades (www.texasbrigades.org), Kiwanis Club of Albany ScholarshipFund,ortothe Albany Methodist Church (P.O. Box 2229,Albany, TX 76430) and may be left at Morehart Mortuary. Condolences may be made online at www.morehart mortuary.net. PD
