Marie Jeanne Heerd

Marie Jeanne Heerd January 13, 1925 – March 25, 2022 Marie Jeanne Heerd, 97, of Bradenton, Florida, passed away peacefully on March 25, 2022. Marie Jeanne Mallet was born January 13, 1925 and grew up in the midst of World War II in Lile, France. In 1948, she journeyed to Baltimore, Maryland, became a U.S. citizen and worked in a sewing factory while living with her parents and brother. In March 1954, Marie married Charles (Charlie) Walter Heerd and together raised three daughters. Charlie brought much happiness and love into Marie’s life, and she often remarked that her life truly began once they met. She enjoyed spending time with her daughters, working at public school cafeterias as manager, designing and sewing dozens of costumes and wedding dresses, camping, boating, crabbing, and water skiing. Marie was a devout Lutheran and knitted countless prayer shawls over the years for those in need. Marie (and Charlie) moved to Bradenton, Florida in 1981 and enjoyed retirement life by traveling through Europe, Alaska, the Caribbean, and South and Central America and fishing and water skiing in the Gulf of Mexico and local waterways. They spent every summer in Maryland enjoying their children and grandchildren while crabbing, water skiing, and fishing, and hosting crab feasts and campfire togetherness. At 63 years old she went back to school (at Bayshore High School) and received her GED, a proud moment with The Bradenton Herald publishing an article about her achievement. Marie was still water skiing in Palma Sola Bay at 70 years old. After Charlie’s death in 2007, Marie became a regular attendee at Bradenton’s Y.M.C.A, attending water aerobics classes and playing cards with friends, multiple times every week. In recent years, Marie struggled with congestive heart failure but survived COVID-19 in March 2020. In July 2021, Marie moved into The Windsor of Bradenton, an assisted living community where she continued to embrace life, playing Bingo, and attending dining room activities. She was welcomed immediately and enjoyed her old and new friends’ visits to chat and play cards. During the 2021 Christmas holiday season, Marie’s health began to significantly decline. She is survived by three daughters, Claudine Knisley, Diane Dougherty, and Beverly Moore, sons-in-law, Julian Knisley, Joseph Dougherty, Sr., and Patrick Moore, grandchildren (and spouses), Charles (Dorothy) and David (Megan) Knisley, Joseph, Jr (Alicia) and Christopher (Sarah) Dougherty, and (Mike) Amy Dye and (Eric) Jessica Pistorius, and 12 great-grandchildren, Charles Knisley, Jr. Xander, Gracyn, and Olivia Knisley, Kailyn, Jordan, Brandon, and Ryan Dougherty, Emma and Grady Dye, and Natalie and Alaina Pistorius. She is also survived by one sister, Claudine Mareels, residing in France. She will be missed by all. A Celebration of Life service will be held at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 6311 Third Avenue West, Bradenton, FL 34209 on Sunday April 3 at 1:00pm and streamed live via Facebook. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to Redeemer Lutheran Church, Bradenton’s Meals on Wheels, Wounded Warrior Project, or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.