Tanya Heal

Tanya Heal, 39, passed away Saturday, October 6, 2007 in Tucson, Arizona. She was born in San Luis Obispo, California, on June 25, 1968 but then moved with her family to Florence, Arizona, where she lived until age 13. Following 8th grade graduation, they moved to Coolidge, Arizona, where she attended and graduated from Coolidge High School. After graduation, she attended Central Arizona College in Casa Grande where she earned her associates degree in 1988. Tanya then enrolled in Arizona State University, and graduated with honors with a bachelor's degree in education in December of 1990. (She later went on to earn a master's degree in education from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff.) After completing her education, Tanya was hired by the Florence School district, where she taught in various grade levels and capacities, but her first love was teaching reading. Many students remember "Miss Heal" as an advocate, a facilitator of knowledge, but most of all, a friend. Tanya was blessed to have been able to spend nearly every summer of her life in Lakeside, and considered it "Home". She was a lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints. She bravely battled Valley Fever for the last 16 years of her short life, and will always be alive in the minds and hearts of us that knew and loved her. Tanya is survived by her parents, Joe and Marilyn Heal, sister and brother-in-law Jamie and Shane Hall, and her nieces and nephews, Liesl, Landon, Lexis and Levi Hall, who miss their "best friend" dearly. She also leaves behind many beloved aunts, uncles, and cousins. Services will be held Wednesday, October 10, with a family memorial beginning at 10:30 and a funeral beginning at 11:00 at the Pinetop-Lakeside Stake Center of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Lakeside, Arizona. A donation can be made in Tanya's name to the Valley Fever Americas Foundation, P.O. Box 2572, Bakersfield, CA 93301.