Betty Jean Hecker

Betty Jean Hecker (nee Bird), 97, of Uniontown passed away peacefully at home the morning of April 24, 2025 with her daughters by her side. Betty was born in Barberton, Ohio on February 13, 1928 to Stanley M. and Cleyon C. (nee Wood) Bird.

Betty was a 1946 graduate of Greensburg High School where she met and later married her husband of 71 years, Howard J. Hecker. As a young mother, she learned to sew from a seamstress to Hungarian royalty. She made beautiful clothes for her two daughters throughout their growing years while working outside the home to help support their young family. In 1975 Betty and Howard founded Hecker Funeral Home in Uniontown where she worked with her family until its sale in 2018. Betty enjoyed most weekends fishing and relaxing at their cabin on Berlin Lake.

Betty is preceded in death by her parents; loving husband Howard; sons-in-law Ray Samples and Larry McClellan; sisters and brothers-in-law Lena and Clair Brewster, Rebecca and Leonard Stewart, Delores and Edgar Armstrong, Mary and Cliff Miracle, Nydah and Harold Cottrell and infant Cleyon Bird; brothers Russell Bird and Robert Bird; brother and sister-in-law Jack and Fran Hecker and brother-in-law Curt Hecker. She is survived by daughters Sue Samples and Cindy McClellan; sisters-in-law Shirley Werntz Bird, Shirley Nell Bird and Darlene Hecker; and many other cherished relatives and friends.

In keeping with Betty’s wishes, cremation has taken place. A private Memorial Service will be held at a future date. The family wishes to thank Betty’s caregiver and angel Beth Jones for her selfless love and compassion, Dr. Barbara Volk for her years of trusted care, and the wonderful nurses from Crossroads Hospice. For those wishing, memorials may be made in Betty’s name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis TN 38105.