Sheila MacDonald Heflin passed at the age of 86 on Thursday, January 16, 2025 at Fairview Commons Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Great Barrington, Massachusetts.

Sheila was born on September 1,1938 in Pittsfield MA and graduated from Pittsfield High School in 1956. After attending Berkshire Business College, she worked for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Probate Court of Berkshire County from 1958-1965.  From 1965 to 1972, she served as Executive Secretary at General Electric Company in the Plastics Division.

Sheila married Carl R. Heflin on November 28,1969 and moved to Texas and then California in 1973.  While in California, she worked for Kelly Services and was a reporter and columnist for local newspapers.  She also owned an antique business in Orange, California. She was a charter member of the Norco California Historical Society and was presented with an Award of Merit for dedicated service to that organization in 1991 and again in1995.

After returning to the Berkshires and settling in Lee, Sheila became active as a volunteer for numerous community non-profits, including the Berkshire Humane Society.  She continued her journalism by contributing a series of articles for ANIMAL LIFE magazine, and enjoyed life-long hobbies of swimming, photography, and gardening.

In 1994 she was honored with the Women of Distinction Award by Soroptimist International and in 2019 was recognized with a Lee Council on Aging INSPIRATION AT 80 Award. Sheila was predeceased by her parents Harry and Angeline (Saracco) MacDonald and her beloved husband Carl who died on September 5, 2001. She leaves her two sisters Sandra Hayes of Lee and Sharon MacDonald of Tyringham and a nephew Anthony Caropreso of Lee. She also leaves her special 'grandson', Guilherme Goncalves.

There will be a graveside service at the Pittsfield Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Berkshire Humane Society in care of Kelly Funeral Home, Lee.

Berkshire Humane Society
C/O Kelly Funeral Home, 3 Main St., Lee MA 01238