Kathy’s Words about Lee at his funeral, February 3, 2011

8 years ago when Steve died, I would not have been able to do this. I think that I can speak for my entire family and say that what we have experienced with Steve and now with Lee has made us stronger. I work with preschoolers and when we find something hard to do, we say I think I can, I think I can, I think I can, I’ll try. And besides, I can hear Lee telling me to suck it up and do it… so here goes.

Back in May of 1959, I was waiting for Dad and Mom to bring another little baby home. No offense, Chuck and Scoot, but I was a little tired of little boys. I just knew that we were going to have a girl. I remember like it was yesterday, when MawMaw Heine walked in and told me that it was another little boy. I was there when Mom and Dad brought that beautiful little boy home and when I say beautiful, I mean beautiful, and it did not take long to fall in love with Lee. George Lee, named after Mom, Georgia Lea.

MawMaw Heine always said that Lee could work circles around all of us… and that sense of humor. He had it right up to the very end. I went to get a pill splitter to cut his morphine in half and Dad walked in and asked if it worked. Lee answered and said, “I’m fixing to try it with my finger and I’ll let you know”. After signing up with hospice, Nicole looked at Lee and said, “You’re a funny guy.” I was laughing so hard that I had tears in my eyes on Sunday listening to Jennifer tell stories about Lee from the camp. Lee’s pride and joy was his son, Jeremy. He loved you, Jeremy, more than life itself.

Our cousin, Wade, shared this on Facebook: "Dear Lee, I hear that you've booked and taken that final flight! Though I'm happy for you, I, and many others, will miss you my man. Mr Independent. It's just like you to go on ahead and start gettin' the place ready for us. Funny the particular memories that pop in our minds at times like these. Sunday afternoons in Baker playing under the Pecan trees! Weekends in Lake Charles eating' Aunt Frankie's shrimp! Then I remembered finding you crying your heart out in the back seat of Uncle Pete's car. We had been looking for you for a while. We asked you what was wrong, and it took a while, but you finally got it out. We had been eating watermelons and you had swallowed a seed. Someone told you a watermelon was gonna grow in your belly. You were devastated! "I don't want no melon growing in my belly!" It took a while, but eventually you were calmed and assured that all would be well. Memories... sweet memories. I don't know if there will be watermelon in Heaven or not. But if so... won't we have a good laugh! I'll miss you Lee. Save me a seat at the table... and tell 'em... I'm comin'."

For many many years, Lee was my comrade in misery when it came to the New Orleans Saints. Oh, the abuse that we took. Usually it was me that would call first during a game unless he had seen something special in the Times Picayune that week about the team. He would answer the phone and I would say, ”Did you see that play?” There would be a long pause and he would say, “The Saints are playing today?” To which I would respond,“ That was funny the first time 15 years ago, but give it a break!” Everyone talked about last year’s team being a team of destiny. Well, Coach Peyton, Drew Brees and the rest of the team, you were a team of destiny, alright, but for a reason you were not even aware of. Lee Heine was meant to see the Saints not only go to, but win the Super Bowl before he died. So you see, guys, you could haven’t lost that NFC Championship game if you tried.

We did not expect the end to come so fast. This past Thursday, we made Dad go on his retreat that he has gone to for the past 31 years because he did not want to leave Lee. He said that one of the daily meditations read, “These weeks are a death watch. Death watches tax us. The Lord God will determine how you go through it. Trust Him.”

We gathered in this very place 8 ½ years ago to say goodbye to Steve. What are the chances of a family losing two brothers to the same disease? I look at old 8 mm films of our childhood and I see Steve riding his little tricycle up and down the driveway and Lee playing football with PawPaw Heine. It makes me want to stop the film, reach in and cup their little faces in my hands and say,” Let me tell you what is going to happen to you when you are 46 and 51 because you make the wrong choice. It is going to cost you your life.” Do I love them any less because of it? Absolutely NOT. I am so proud of the fact that both of them were able to share with others before they died, just what could happen. Dad kept saying after Steve died that he hoped his death would help just one person. I had to go to Dad and say, “I am that person. Steve dying, saved my life.” I know FOR A FACT that if Steve and Lee could stand here with me today, they would tell us first of all to not make the wrong choice and if we have, to get help. They would also say, don’t ever think it can’t happen to you…because it can. Does it make me mad and want to put my fist through a door? You bet it does, but it also makes me determined that Steve and Lee will not die in vain. God does not make mistakes and I know that something good is going to come out of this.

I was there in 1979 when Lee entered this world as that beautiful little blond headed boy and I was there beside him on Monday morning, when Lee left this world. I will miss him waving at me from the camp as I drive off. I will miss him saving all of the front sports pages of the Time Picayune. I will miss him on Sundays when the Saints play. Most of all, I will just miss my brother. I thank God for blessing me with a wonderful and incredible Dad and Mom and for 4 wonderful and amazing brothers but most of all, today, I thank Him for His mercy. As Dad says, “God is good… all the time.”