Obituary of Ethel Fern Heins

Ethel F. (Roatcap) Clements Heins, 94, went home to be with the Lord on October 25, 2017. She was born on April 2, 1923, to Iona and Charles Roatcap in Olathe, Colorado. Her mother passed away shortly after giving birth, and eventually, Ethel's care was taken over by her beloved aunt and uncle, Daisy and Archie Roatcap. After graduating from high school, Ethel moved to San Leandro, California, in the 1940s and ended up with a war job assembling Navy buckets. She embraced her freedom and fell in love with the ocean - her love of all things nautical followed her for the rest of her life. During World War II, she moved to Farmington, New Mexico, where she met her husband William (Bill) Clements. The two of them married in 1945 and turned into a dynamic team, spending the next 39 years living numerous places in the Southwest and California. Ethel and Bill raised their children, Judy and Phil, while managing and working at Navajo Trading Posts in New Mexico and Arizona. Later, they managed apartments in Utah and Colorado. Ethel embraced her role of motherhood and grandmother.After Bill's death in 1984, Ethel turned into a very active senior and participated in many clubs in town. Ethel was a long-time resident of Colorado Springs where she fondly helped raise her grandchildren, devoutly developed her faith, voraciously read books and was always up for a good traveling adventure. She met her second husband, Raymond Heins, in 1990. Ethel and Ray enjoyed a 22-year marriage and enjoyed traveling to numerous places. Ethel was very proud of Ray being a sign painter and artist. Ethel is survived by daughter Judy McCombe (Richard) Gandolf; son, Phil Clements; step-daughters, Lynette (Cal) Kemp and Elaine (Randy) Foster and family; grandchildren Thomas (Tanda) McCombe IV, James McCombe, Cindy McCombe, Paul (Megan) Kemp, Dan Kemp, Andrew (Ori) Kemp with baby Amara; great-grandchildren Clay McCombe, Tabitha McCombe, Jillian and Westley Akers, Daytona and Ryker McCombe and their mother Connie McCombe. Many extended family members survive.Ethel was preceded in death by her parents; treasured aunt and uncle; husbands Bill Clements and Raymond Heins; son-in-law Thomas McCombe III; brother Loren Roatcap and sister Delores Rupe. Two wonderful friends, Maxine Coleman and Margaret Lewis, also passed during 2017.Family, friends, and faith were important to Ethel. Her memory and legacy will remain with us forever.Memorial contributions can be made to Immanuel Lutheran Church, 846 E. Pikes Peak Avenue, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80903 or Pikes Peak Hospice, 2550 Tenderfoot Hill Street, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80906. Events Service Saturday, November 4, 2017 9:00AM The Springs Funeral Services 3115 East Platte Avenue Colorado Springs, CO 80909 Phone: 719-207-8855