June 1, 2026

Linn County News

Published June 3, 2026

Clara Mae “Butch” Heflin passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 28, 2026, having just celebrated her 80th birthday. She was born in Pinckneyville, Ill., on April 18, 1946. The second eldest daughter of 12 children, Butch grew up with her siblings in Southern Illinois and eventually moved to Kansas with her first three children, Gerry, Tammy, and Jeff. She married her husband, Les Heflin, in 1971, with whom she had her final child, Jason.

In life, she was an amazing cook; an avid gardener; a lover of flowers and year-round Christmas décor; a Chiefs football and KU basketball fan; and, above all, a loving sister, wife, mother, and grandmother.

Butch was preceded in death by her parents Ollie and Mike Thomas; siblings Dean, Jim, Myrt, Patty, and Rog; and daughter, Tammy Fleming. She is survived by her loving husband, Les; and her English bulldog Rockin’ Rowdy Riggs; her sons Gerry (Jana), Jeff (Kim), Jason (Mamta); and son-in-law Curtis; and her beloved grandchildren, Matthew, Megan, Cody (Kylee), Dalton (Mia), Marcus, and Sylar; her siblings, Wilbur, Susie, Sherry, Shirley, Judy, Lonnie and their spouses; and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, June 6, 2026 at the Schneider Funeral Home, Pleasanton Chapel.  A Celebration of Life will be held at 5:30 p.m. at the Pleasanton Chapel. Memorial contributions are suggested to the KC Pet Project or a pet charity of choice. Online condolences can be left at www.schneiderfunerals.com.