Harold William “Bill” Heyer, 93, was born on February 9, 1933, and passed away peacefully at home on April 25, 2026. Bill grew up in Indiana, and although he lived most of his life elsewhere, it was always in his folksy Hoosier way.
Bill was predeceased by his parents, Harold August and Elizabeth Smith Heyer, and his sister, Janice Olsen. When Bill was four, the family moved to Morocco, Ind., where they owned and operated the motion picture theatre. Bill was noted for playing center in six-man football and playing clarinet in the marching band at halftime while his teammates were in the locker room. Basketball, baseball, and golf were other favorite pastimes, along with courting his first wife Doris LaCosse.
On his 21st birthday, after 2.5 successful years at the United States Military Academy, Bill resigned to pursue a degree in Electrical Engineering at Purdue and a career of designing and analyzing systems that would protect his former classmates, serve his country, and help save the free world. He lived by the West Point ideals of duty, honor and country, and as an affiliate member of the USMA class of 1955 attended many reunions, most recently the 70th.
A chance trip to Huntsville, Ala., introduced him to Laurie, his loving wife of 36 years. Bill retired in 1994 to pursue new adventures with “Team Heyer,” a partnership that took him and Laurie to Boulder for her PhD, Los Angeles for her postdoc, and finally to North Carolina for her dream job as a professor at Davidson College. In addition to doing everything in his power to support Laurie, Bill found great joy in hiking and skiing in Colorado, biking and playing pickup basketball on Venice Beach, and being the “#2 Fan” of the Davidson Wildcats.
Bill loved long road trips and adventures abroad, culminating with snorkeling in Australia at 76 and climbing Machu Picchu at 82. He loved his many four-legged best friends, including Missy, Addie and Mendel. He loved running, rooting for the Cubs and the Boilermakers, big band music, Willie Nelson, and whoever played at Merlefest. He loved the Lord and his church community at DCPC, especially campus ministry and the Brindisi men’s Bible study.
Bill squeezed every drop out of life. He narrowly survived a mastoid infection at six and a major stroke at 90, and lived each day with deep gratitude for family, friends, caregivers, and medical providers who helped give him so much extra time. Bill adored his wife Laurie; his children Greg, Jackie, Hal and Cindy; his sister’s children Beth, Kim, Meg and Jo (Dave); Laurie’s brother Kristopher (Danielle), nieces Ella and Ivy and nephew Camden; Laurie’s mom Susan (Felix), dad Roger (Jan) and uncle Tom (Kay) – and all of their children, grandchildren and other loved ones who he leaves behind.
A memorial service will be held at Davidson College Presbyterian Church at 4 p.m. on Monday, June 1, 2026, with a reception to follow.
In lieu of flowers, if you wish to honor Bill’s memory, please consider directing a gift to Davidson College Presbyterian Church for the Campus Ministry Fund (PO Box 337, Davidson NC, 28036), or to Davidson College for the Data Science Fund (Box 5000, 209 Ridge Road, Davidson NC 28035), or to any organization that represents things that Bill loved.
Cavin-Cook Funeral Home & Crematory, Mooresville, is serving the family of Mr. Heyer. Condolences may be made to the Heyer family at www.cavin-cook.com.