Ronald "Ricky" Heeter

Ronald "Ricky" R. Heeter, age 48, formerly of Erie, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, August 7, 2026 at his residence in Durham, NC. He was born on January 31, 1978 in Erie, a son of Linda (Pace) Heeter and the late Ronald Heeter.

Ricky was a graduate of Erie Central High School. After High School, he spent a career either building or repairing electrical motors at several Erie companies including RAM Motors and Controls. In 2019, he moved to Durham, NC and worked for the City of Durham as a Plant Mechanic at the Brown Water Treatment Plant. He was known for his steady presence, skill set and willingness to help by his coworkers. Ricky was a kind person with a big heart that often showed through his love of animals. He always found a way to connect with people through the music he enjoyed. He was a fan of the New York Giants Football Team, and enjoyed playing video games.

In addition to his mother, Ricky is survived by his children, Rieli, Richard (Tatiana) and Trevor Heeter; his granddaughter, Yuliana Heeter; his grandmother, Doris (Gary) Irish; his sister, Patricia (Justin) Laniewicz; and his companion and friend, Corie Simanowski. He is also survived by several aunts, uncles and nieces.

Friends are invited to call at the John R. Orlando Funeral Home, 2122 Raspberry St., on Monday, August 17th, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Memorials may be made to the A.N.N.A. Shelter at www.theannashelter.com or at the link below.