Heather Ann Hurst

Heather Ann Heywood Hurst was born on October 2, 1970, in Cedar City, Utah, the first child of Bruce Neil and Rita Jean Mellor Heywood. She unexpectedly and very efficiently, as was her way, left this life on October 23, 2026. She is preceded in death by the love of her life, Jeffrey Jack Hurst, who passed just over two years ago. We believe she died of a broken heart.

Heather grew up a Navy Brat and has lived and traveled all over the world. She graduated from Churchill County High School in Fallon, Nevada, in 1988. She went directly to Southern Utah University to study chemistry and math because her mom told her she could be anything she wanted to be! Mr. Steve Johnson inspired her love of chemistry in high school and set her on a path that opened numerous opportunities and a lifetime of career choices she loved.

Heather was an active and devoted member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving in many callings throughout her life. Her favorite was teaching seminary to the youth. She served a mission in the Tennessee Nashville Mission in her early twenties. She loved teaching the Gospel, and she loved the temple!

Heather had a remarkable gift for learning. She is the most educated and the most intelligent in our family, holding two master's degrees: a Master of Business Administration from the University of Nevada, Reno, and a Master of Jurisprudence in Healthcare Compliance from Indiana University. She was a devoted business professor at Ivy Tech in Bloomington, Indiana. Her employers and colleagues have always loved and appreciated her. Her current boss describes her as “a ray of sunshine” and “amazing at her craft in compliance.” She has dear friends who are family from every part of her life and career.

One of Heather’s favorite roles in life is that of Auntie. As with everything else she does, she is the very best auntie. Most, if not all, of her nieces and nephews would say she’s the favorite. She spent her life calling, visiting, sending cards and money, making reading deals, going on trips, and buying the things they “needed.”

Probably her very most favorite role of all time in the history of ever is being Henry’s Nimi. That boy lit up her life, and she would have done anything for him.

It must be noted that Heather loves Ferris wheels, the Indiana Fever, and her dogs and chickens. She won the blue ribbon at the Garfield County Fair for her snickerdoodles, and she made the best chocolate peanut butter cupcakes and brownies from scratch in the world. She always said, as did her dad, “Be good. If you can’t be good, be careful. And if you can’t be careful, don’t name it after me.”

Heather is survived by her dad, Bruce, and his wife, Patricia Klemann Heywood, and her siblings: Heidi & Jeremiah Higley, Timothy & Laura Proffitt Heywood, Robert & Dana Heywood, and Holly Heywood; her father-in-law, Jack “Jackson” Earl Hurst and brother-in-law, James “Jamie” Earl Hurst; stepson, Jeff “Lil’ J” & Brianna Madden Hurst, Jr.; her grandson, Henry Owen Hurst; and her bonus daughter, Kayla Bixler. She is loved in this life and beyond by many nieces and nephews, friends and friends who were family, and Jeff’s pack of animals.

Family and friends who were family will gather at the Panguitch City Cemetery on Saturday, Oct. 31, at 11:00 am for the dedication of Heather’s final resting place. They will then meet at the Cowboy’s Smokehouse on Main Street in Panguitch to share memories, good food, and love.