David K. Heaps, MD

David K. Heaps, MD, was born on January 7, 1938, in Chicago, Illinois, to Earl Kenneth Heaps and Sarah Griffith Begle Heaps. He passed away on April 23, 2026, in Tucson, Arizona.

Dave was raised in Michigan and remained a proud lifelong fan of the Michigan Wolverines. He graduated from Albion College in 1959 and went on to attend the University of Michigan Medical School, where he studied from 1959 to 1963. He completed his internship at the University of Michigan Hospital from 1963 to 1964.

Dave was drafted into the U.S. Army Medical Corps, serving as Capitan at Fort Hood, Texas, and later in Bien Hoa, Vietnam, from 1964 to 1966. There, he cared for both troops and civilians and was awarded the Army Commendation Medal and Bronze Star Medal in 1966. Following his military service, he returned to the University of Michigan Hospital to complete his residency in orthopedic surgery from 1966 to 1970.

An avid outdoorsman, Dave loved sailing, skiing, and adventure. He chose Bellingham, Washington, to establish his orthopedic practice, where he spent his entire career caring for the communities of Whatcom and San Juan Counties. He was a longtime ski patrol doctor at Mount Baker and found great joy in the outdoors.

Dave's passion for sailing took him on remarkable journeys, form the San Juan Islands to Alaska, the South Pacific, and New Zealand. In 2002, he embarked on a three-year voyage through the eastern Intracoastal Waterway- from Florida to New York- then navigated inland waterways through upstate New York, Canada's lock systems, and down the central U.S. river systems, ultimately ending in Mobile, Alabama, on the Gulf Coast. Simply put, Dave knew how to live life fully.

After selling his last boat in 2015, Dave turned to horseback riding. In 2017, at the age of 79, he completed and epic 240-mile ride over 12 days- form Apache Junction, Arizona, through the Mongollon Rim, Greens Peak, Mount Baldy, and Big Lake, ending at Sprucedale Ranch.

Dave was known for his vibrant personality and love of people. He was and entertainer at heart- he sang, danced, and told unforgettable stories. He was generous with both his time and resources, he especially loved big dogs.

He is survived by his wife, Sharon Heaps; His brother Robert (Mary); his sons, Scott Heaps (Rachel) and Matt Heaps (Julie); his stepchildren, Valerie Chatterley, Danny Whittaker (Amy), and Dane Whittaker (Anne)' 13 grandchildren; 2 great-grandchildren; and his beloved yellow Labrador, Ruger. Dave was preceded in death by his step-daughter Amy Hanna, her husband Chip and his grandson Ty Malone.

Dave's Memorial Mass will be Saturday, May 30, 2026 at Santa Catalina Catholic Church at 11:00 AM MST with a rosary before starting at 10:30 AM MST

He will be interred at the Arizona Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Marana on July 17, 2026 at 10:00 AM MST