Anne Kasson Heck

Anne Kasson Heck, beloved mother and all-around human being, went to be with God and her family on August 20. She died peacefully, with those who love her nearby.

Born in St. Luke's a month before Pearl Harbor, Annie (never Anne!) grew up in Kansas City. Attending the Barstow School, she graduated with the class of 1959 and headed for Pembroke College at Brown University, from which she graduated cum laude in 1963 with a B.A. in English.

In 1967 she married Cyril Heck, a sculptor. After stops in Pittsburg, KS and Champaign, IL, they moved to Hamburg, Germany. There she gave birth to their son Jason in 1973.

Returning to Kansas City a year later as a single mother, Annie landed in advertising. She sold air for several radio stations before moving into ad agencies, while being the best single mom a kid could ask for, buying a house with a big backyard in Prairie Village and a black labrador puppy (that supposedly came from Santa, but Jason knew better).

Animal rescue took center stage when she became Vice President for Development at Wayside Waifs, one of the city's largest animal shelters. She also kicked her smoking habit and embraced sobriety, helping others do the same as a leader in local addiction recovery groups.

She married Gary Hicks in 2000 and his daughters Molly and Alie became a much-loved part of her life. Even after their divorce in 2011, Annie and Gary remained close friends, speaking almost every day until his death in 2019.

All of these are just events. Who she was as a person is more important. Smart and incisive, able to be silly at a moment's notice, confident of her intellect but fearful of being judged, seemingly at ease in a group yet often battling social anxiety, and with her son as her best friend and proudest accomplishment.

Annie was preceded in death by her parents George and Anita and her sister Holly. She is survived by her son Jason and stepdaughters Molly and Alie.

Want to honor two things Annie loved with all her heart? Consider a donation to Wayside Waifs or Kansas City Actors Theatre in her memory. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, September 25, 2021, at Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral, 415 West 13th Street, Kansas City, MO 64105. A reception for friends and family will follow the service at the church.

Want to honor two things Annie loved with all her heart? Consider a donation to Wayside Waifs or Kansas City Actors Theatre in her memory. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, September 25, 2021, at Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral, 415 West 13th Street, Kansas City, MO 64105. A reception for friends and family will follow the service at the church.