Barney Heeney Jr.

Born in St. Joseph, Missouri Barney J. Heeney, Jr., was a lifelong Kansan, but he was born March 6, 1924, in St. Joseph, Missouri, because that was the closest hospital. Barney was reared in Beattie, a small town in northeast Kansas. Barney's parents, Elizabeth Delaney and Bernard (Barney) Heeney, owned and managed the First National Bank of Beattie. The Heeney Family Barney met Marjorye Savage on a blind date in Lincoln Nebraska in 1948. They dated for several years, and Marge broke off their engagement to attend radio and drama school in New York. After several years of being a bachelor, Barney’s uncle, Dick Delaney, encouraged his nephew to find his true love. So, inspired by his uncle’s advice and undeterred by Marge’s previous uncertainty, Barney located Marge in Oklahoma City and their courtship began again. They married in 1956 at St. Joseph’s Church in Cheyenne, Oklahoma. Was a Practical Joker Barney had a reputation throughout Beattie/Marshall County as a practical joker. One of his favorite practical jokes was when he and a pal planted a car whistle in one of the neighbor’s cars. The car still required a hand crank for starting, and while his neighbor was cranking the car the whistle went off startling the neighbor and causing him to throw the hand crank into the bushes. The boys were quickly given away by their laughter. However, the laughter faded when the brunt of their joke forced them to help find his hand crank. Professional Education and Career Barney attended the University of Nebraska intending to pursue a career in music, but World War II interrupted his plans and he became a pilot. After the war, he returned to Nebraska where he earned his law degree. He also attended New York University where he received his LLC. Barney relocated to Topeka where he joined Harold Schroeder to form the law firm that became Schroeder, Heeney, Groff and Coffman. Barney retired in 1989, and the firm operates today as Coffman, DeFries, and Nothern. Known for his celebration of St. Patrick’s Day Together, Barney and his wife Marge helped found the Saint Patrick’s Day celebration in Topeka. He was known for celebrating “the high holy day,” which included his tradition of dressing up as a true leprechaun. His outfit was complete with a top hat, tails, and a white and green striped vest. The Heeney clan including his brother, Richard Heeney, would gather and celebrate with bagpipes, dancing, music and frivolity. Music and dance At a very young age, Barney's mother encouraged him to dance and play music. His dancing began with tap dance lessons. Barney and Marge explored many other styles of dance and were great dancing partners and competed in ballroom competitions. As a teenager, Barney played the drums and formed a small quartet - that included his mother playing piano - that traveled around the region earning him five dollars a gig. He would later join Jimmy Canton’s Orchestra, a well-known regional band, as his drummer. Worldwide traveler Barney enjoyed traveling. As a child, Barney’s family did not go far from home, so he made a commitment to travel as an adult. Barney piloted the plane that took his family to many destinations both in and outside the United States. Although atypical for an attorney, Barney took a sabbatical in the late 1970s. Barney, Marge, John and Dan relocated to Tucson for one year. During the sabbatical, Barney worked in the parts department at a local general aviation airport. In 1990, during its civil war, Marge and Barney traveled by pickup truck from Topeka to El Salvador to deliver the truck and its supplies to the communities of that beautiful country. His travels included trips for 30 Elderhostel programs that they both taught and attended. He and Marge took trips to many exotic places to visit their daughter Mary and her family on their sailing trip around the Pacific Ocean. Last Word Barney and Marge bought their tombstone in the 1990s and had it inscribed, “Off on another adventure” - who can argue with that? Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Marjorye “Marge” Savage Heeney of the home: four children: Bernard Heeney (Sarah Leach) of Topeka; Mary Heeney (Louis Dietz) of Mountain View, CA; John Heeney (Melissa) of Westwood Hills, KS.; Dan Heeney (Colette) of Dolores, CO; five grandchildren: Emily Dietz, Martin Dietz, Nancy Heeney, Megan Heeney and Jack Heeney. He was preceded in death by his parents, and his brother, Richard Heeney. An Open House will be held at the Topeka Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 4775 SW 21st Street, on Sunday, June 11 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers please send contributions to: Topeka Collegiate School, 2200 SW Eveningside Drive Topeka, Kansas 66614 or http://www.topekacollegiate.org (Click on Make a Gift button on the home page) or Topeka Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 4775 SW 21st Street Topeka 66604.

Barney Heeney Jr.

March 6, 1924 - May 8, 2017