Description

Lloyd Edward “Shad” Heller (b. 1913 – d. 1991) was born July 17, 1913 in Bartonsville, Pennsylvania. As a young adult, he was a businessman in Prescott, Arizona including working for Sears Roebuck Co. In Prescott, he was active in the Elks Lodge becoming the lodge’s youngest Grand Exalted Ruler. He was also a member of the Kiwanis Club and chief of the Smoki People.

On March 28, 1934, he married Mary Born. She was a daughter of Prescott's first mail carrier, Charles Born. They had two children: Diane Shirley and Charles Stephen. Mary was very active in community affairs and served as president of both the Lady Elks and the American Legion Auxiliary, and was a Chieftess of the Smoki People. Along with her mother and grandmother, Mary is memorialized in the Territorial Women’s Memorial Rose Garden. In 1954 they were divorced.

In 1958 Lloyd moved to the Ozarks where he became active in community theater. His Corn Cob Theater that featured the popular Toby Show ran for 16 years. He also appeared in several segments of the Beverly Hillbilly’s.

He died January 13 (or 16) in 1991 at age 77. He was survived by his wife, Ruth “Mollie”; a daughter, Diane Gay of Orlando, Florida; a son, Stephen Heller of Hanover Park, Illinois; a stepson, Bob Soles of Branson, Missouri and a stepdaughter, Pat DeLong of Tulsa, Oklahoma. He is buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Branson, Missouri.

Sources: Obituary, Prescott Courier, January 15,1951; Family Search; Sharlot Hall Museum Territorial Women’s Memorial Rose Garden Biography.