Raymond H. Heffington

Raymond H. Heffington

09/30/2021

Raymond H. Heffington, age 78, passed away September 30th, 2021, after a short illness. Family and friends will always remember Ray as the ideal southern gentleman. Born in Sturgis, Kentucky to Raymond H. Heffington Sr. and Anna Pearl Boston Heffington, Ray graduated from Trigg County High School where he was the senior class president and a 4-year varsity football athlete. Ray accepted a football scholarship to the University of Kentucky and during his sophomore year was a member of the renowned “Thin Thirty”. While at the University of Kentucky, he met his future wife, Lonna Keller. For the next 55 years, they never left each other’s side.

Following their graduation from UK, Ray and Lonna eventually settled in DeLand where Ray earned his MAI designation and established his county wide real estate appraisal firm, Heffington & Associates.

During his time in DeLand, Ray held leadership positions in numerous service organizations including Jaycees, Kiwanis, and the DeLand Breakfast Rotary Club. In the early 2000's, Ray was a committee member of the Rotary Clubs Volusia County Honor Air and he accompanied veterans on each trip Honor Air made to the WWII Memorial in Washington DC, including serving as the lead coordinator for the 2nd of his 10 trips.

He served as Deacon at the First Presbyterian Church of DeLand and was a leader of the Youth Ministry. He enjoyed coaching his son Todd and his friends in the DeLand youth football leagues. An active hunter and fisherman, Ray became nationally known for his knowledge of antique fishing tackle.

Above all else, Ray cherished time with his family. Ray and Lonna took their entire family on vacations throughout the world culminating with a 2019 African Safari which was Ray and Lonna’s 4th trip to their beloved Okavango Delta. Ray will be forever missed by his wife Lonna Keller Heffington; his daughter Kim Heffington (Steve) Sands, son, Todd Heffington (Angie) and grandchildren, Natalie Sands (David) Steverson, Avery Heffington and Brody Heffington. Ray is also survived by his younger brother Mike Heffington (Tana) of Kentucky, and Mike’s children Kelly Heffington (Gus) Yazigi, John David Heffington (Christine), and Brianna Heffington (Darryl) Wolfe.

The family has privately celebrated his life and other services have not been planned.