Stella Jane Plant was born on July 18,1924 in Waurika, Oklahoma to Norby and Mary Plant. She was the fifth of their 8 children – 2 boys and 6 girls. She was a registered Choctaw Tribal Member.
She grew up on a 200-acre working farm outside of Waurika where they grew much of their food and lots of cotton. They sewed their own clothes. They rode horseback to elementary and middle school till the horse bucked them off and she broke her arm.
She loved dolls and had lots of them growing up.
She survived the Black Sunday dust storm on April 14, 1935. And many tornados, that would send them running to the storm cellar – day or night. She left high school to take some business courses, then moved to Ft. Worth with her friend. They worked in a little nut and bolt factory called Caliarieo where she ran the machine that separated them.
When they heard there was more money to be made in Houston, they moved there around 1944 and worked at the Dickson Gun Plant making centrifugally cast gun tubes (barrels). Stella changed jobs and was working at a venetian blind plant when at least two ships blew up in Texas City, April 16, 1947, due to an ammonium nitrate explosion. It blew the windows out of a lot of houses, damaging the blinds so they were brought to them to fix.
It was about this time (mid 1945), that she met Leonard Heemer, Bubba. They dated about two and a half years, fell in love and were married on December 24,1947 in the home of T. C. Jester, pastor of Baptist Temple Church. They lived several places while he worked for the phone company – Rosenburg, Center, Jasper, Kirbyville, Corrigan and then back to Houston.
They had three children – Connie – September 20,1950, William Leonard III (Tracy) – October 2, 1953, and Sheila – January 23,1956. They bought their first house on 14th Street in 1956, and they lived there for 18 years until building a house a couple of miles away and moving there in 1974.
W. L. and Stella bought their first motor home in the mid ‘60’s and traveled all over the country – from sea to sea and Canada to Mexico. They were members of the Foretravel Motorcade Club for years.
In 1963, she went to American Academy Beauty School for 6 months, got her license and opened her shop – a little building behind the house, on November 23, 1963, called “Stella Jo’s”.
She worked at Western Lithograph Printing and Bindery Services from ’76 to ’80. She also worked for June Craft and Three Weavers.
She was a member of several churches over the years – Trinity Baptist Church was where she was saved on Sunday, October 26,1952 at 28 years old. She was baptized on Wednesday night October 29,1952 with Zelma and Judy Carswell. They also went to Timbergrove Baptist Church for about 25 years where they were quite active. She taught 2nd and 3rd grade Sunday School and worked in Vacation Bible School. Then they transferred their membership to Lazybrook Baptist Church where they were still members.
She celebrated her 100th birthday last year with a special cake and lots of family members.
Stella had numerous hobbies – oil painting, ceramics, crocheting, quilting and beading. She was an avid cookbook collector and reader.
Stella Jane Plant Heemer left for heaven in her sleep at 12:45 on May 30, 2025.
She was proceeded in death by their son, William Leonard III (Tracy) on February 14,1970 and her husband of 76 years, William Leonard Heemer, Jr. on February 14, 2024.
She is survived by two daughters, Connie Thompson (Raymond) and Sheila Heemer. Also, by 6 grandchildren – Charlotte Redd (Ryan), Melanie Rosenbaum (Allen), Rock Thompson, Melissa Scavelli (Albert), Blake Mistich and Jennifer Phillips (Thomas); 9 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren.
Obituary provided by Woodlawn Funeral Home.