Sherman Ross Heater

Sherman Ross Heater, age 81, of Grants Pass, died Monday, October 10, 2011 in Grants Pass from complications from Parkinson’s disease.

A memorial service will be at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, October 15, 2011 at River Valley Community Church. Private interment will be at Hillcrest Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, the family is asking for donations to the Asante Foundation on behalf of the GPAR Family House Endowment, 500 SW Ramsey Avenue, Grants Pass, Oregon 97527.

Born in Glendale, California on October 6, 1930, Sherm’s family moved to Grants Pass in December 1941. Sherm was a 3 sport athlete at Grants Pass High School and recognized as the varsity G athlete of the year as a senior in 1948. On May 24, 1951 he married Geraldine “Jerry” Newell and together raised their children in Grants Pass. Sherm was a foreman for Turk Bulb Farms for 17 years before acquiring his real estate license in 1971. He went to work for Bob Loveless at Evergreen Land and Real Estate. In 1978 he and his wife Jerry opened their own brokerage firm as Sherm Heater Inc., REALTORS, later adding the Prudential franchise. Sherm earned his GRI and CRS designations as a real estate broker and in 1996 was inducted into the Grants Pass Association of Realtors Hall of Fame. He retired from Real Estate in 2001, but his legacy continues in the business now owned and operated by his sons.

Sherm loved music, especially Dixieland jazz. He was a regular at the Reno National Air Races every September for over 30 years until his health no longer allowed him to travel. An avid sports fan, Sherm rarely missed Grants Pass sporting events and loved watching his children and grandchildren compete at every level. A lifelong member of the Elks and a private pilot, Sherm’s true passion was his family. He attended Edgewater Christian Fellowship until his health failed.

Sherm is survived by his wife of 60 years, Jerry Heater; children, Ellen Heater, Dan & Darcie Heater; Kurt & Marianne Heater; and Russ & Leslie Heater; 12 grandchildren, Matt, Becky, Amy, Katie, Mark, Derek, Zack, Tim, Michael, Darin, Sierra, and Alex; and seven great-grandchildren, Ben, Quinn, Gavin, Molly, Isaiah, Sterling, and Foster.

He was preceded in death by his brothers, Duane and Sterling; his parents, Dick & Leonel; and his oldest son, Gary.