Heather Suzanne (Caskey) Willcockson was born on December 29, 1984 to Zenaida Roark and Robin Caskey in Clinton, Missouri. She died on September 6, 2023 in Clinton, Missouri. Heather attended Leeton Elementary through second grade and completed the remainder of her education in Clinton, graduating from Clinton High School in 2003. In May 2006, Heather married Bill Willcockson, and she gave birth to Amber Grace Willcockson in June 2007. Heather lived in Clinton until her death.
When Heather was an infant, she suffered a permanent traumatic brain injury as a result of an automobile accident. But Heather never let her disabilities prevent her from doing the things she loved. She was fiercely independent and walked several miles multiple times each week to go shopping, to go to appointments and to go to church. Heather was gifted in many areas, but her passion was music. She was an accomplished pianist, trumpet player and vocalist (singing alto in her church choir and occasionally singing as a soloist). Her favorite songs were traditional church hymns, and she was thrilled when she recently inherited her grandmother’s collection of hymnals and old sheet music.
Heather became a Christian as a child, and her faith was very important to her. She was a member of the Clinton United Methodist Church, where she faithfully attended Sunday services and a women’s bible study, played in the handbell choir, sang in the chancel choir, and played piano in the chapel service. She loved her church family and especially enjoyed her women’s group and the group that gathered on Friday afternoons to play games and put together puzzles.
Heather is survived by her daughter, Amber; her mother and stepfather, Zenaida and Shean Roark; her brother, Steven Caskey; two nieces, Alyssa Caskey and Paisley Caskey; her grandfather, Leon Caskey; several aunts, uncles and cousins. She was preceded in death by her father, Robin Caskey; and her grandmothers, Shirley Caskey and Beatriz Carreon.
A Celebration of Life was held at the Clinton United Methodist Church on Tuesday, September 12, 2023. Rev. Monty Stratton officiated the service, and Sam and Phyllis Lucas performed special music. Inurnment followed at Drake Chapel Cemetery.
Services were under the direction of Vansant-Mills Funeral Home of Clinton, MO.
