Heather Elizabeth Mccallie

Heather Elizabeth (Curry) McCallie, 49 years old, of Waco, Texas, passed away on Tuesday, June 20, 2023, after spending 16 months with cancer and embracing every moment to the fullest with family and friends. A Celebration of Heather’s Life will be held at The Barn at Old Bethany, 2730 Old Bethany Rd, Bruceville, Texas, on Tuesday, June 27, at 11 a.m.

Heather was born on August 18, 1973, to Susan Stewart and Stanley Willis Curry in Dallas, Texas. After Heather graduated from Waco High School in 1992, she studied education at the University of Texas at Austin (UT) where she earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Applied Learning and Development in 1996. She began her teaching career at Paul Keyes Elementary School in Irving, Texas, where she lovingly nurtured students for seven years.

While in Dallas, Heather began dating the love of her life, Jason McCallie, also a graduate of UT; they were married in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, surrounded by close friends and family, in December of 2001. Heather and Jason celebrated the birth of their son, Parker, in 2004. Shortly thereafter, they moved to Waco, Texas, where twins Finley and Ella were born in 2006. Heather poured unconditional love into her children, surrounding them with joy, beauty, adventure, opportunities, and fun while guiding them to do their very best in every endeavor.

Heather believed wholeheartedly in the strength of extended family and friends and was a master at bringing loved ones together. She regularly hosted holidays and gatherings, making sure everyone felt “at home” and included. Heather enjoyed good music, dancing, and fun times; her sense of humor and love of games surpassed by none.

Once Parker, Ella, and Finley were in school, Heather continued her path of investing in children and taught at South Waco Elementary and volunteered for CASA, an organization for which she cared deeply.

Heather’s impeccable sense of style and design infused beauty into everything she touched, including as Head Designer for Lil’ Fans Apparel, volunteer work, and interior design for friends and family. When she took on a project, no one could eclipse her designer’s eye.

In February of 2022, Heather was diagnosed with a rare and terminal form of sarcoma cancer and given two months to live. Instead of asking “Why?” or “Why me?”, Heather chose to fill every day with family, friends, joy, and adventure. In between chemo sessions, she filled her time with her passion — traveling and spending time with loved ones. While courageously battling cancer, she traveled to California, New York City, Jamaica, North Carolina, New Orleans, St. Lucia, Italy, and Switzerland; she even fulfilled her dream to scuba dive with whale sharks in Mexico.

All-engaging, tenacious, brutally honest, strong, beautiful, and oh so loving, Heather will be dearly missed. She is survived by her son Parker, 18, her daughters Ella and Finley, 16, and her husband of 21 years, Jason McCallie of Waco; her mother Susan Curry of Waco; and her father Stanley and step-mother Michelle Curry of Spring Branch, Texas; her brother Haywood, sister-in-law Heidi, and nieces Alma and Persephone Curry of Caye Caulker, Belize; her brother Nick Curry of Salt Lake City, Utah; her aunt Sandy Horne and cousins Stewart and Briggs Horne; her uncle Jim and aunt Sharon Curry; her Uncle Bill Stewart; and her step sisters Jennifer McCandless, Staci Ruppert, and step brother Tommy Downes.

The family is deeply grateful for the care given to Heather at M.D. Anderson and by Harbour Hospice.

Memorial donations may be made to CASA at casaforeverychild.org. The family invites you to leave a message or memory on our “Tribute Wall” at www.WHBfamily.com.