Obituary of Joseph Anthony Heyl, III

Joseph Anthony Heyl, III ("Joe" or "Bo," as he was referred to by family and childhood friends), born July 16, 1938 in Houston, Texas, to Beatrice and Joseph A. Heyl, Jr., passed away on February 20, 2022 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.  

Joe went to grade school at Holy Rosary Grammar School and graduated from St. Thomas High School in 1955.  He studied pre-med for two years at the University of St. Thomas, Houston, and then studied Latin at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa before entering the Dominican Order.

In 1958, Joe entered the Novitiate of the Dominican Order at St. Peter Martyr Priory in Winona, Minnesota, and professed simple vows there a year later.  He went on to the Dominican House of Studies in River Forest, Illinois to study philosophy.  After receiving the degree of Master of Philosophy with honors from the School of Philosophy of the Aquinas Institute of Philosophy and Theology in 1962, he made profession of solemn vows and was transferred to St. Rose Priory in Dubuque to begin theological studies.  He was ordained June 13, 1965, at Holy Rosary Church, and later pursued special studies in psychology at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Joe was blessed with the gift of counseling troubled youths and people with addiction.  Later he chose secular life and pursued small business opportunities eventually adapting to the life of a long haul truck driver and dispatcher.   He enjoyed meeting people and worked at a local store tapping into his love of people.

He loved tinkering with cars, had an interest in flying planes, cherished the beach, and living in the country.  He read a lot and was particularly interested in alternative medicine and held strong opinions about politics.  He loved dogs and his nieces and nephew enjoyed that he rescued dogs that they kept as pets.  He was described as a young 83 year old, who had fun and a great sense of humor.  

Joe is survived by his sister, Mary Elizabeth Murphy of Houston, Texas; nieces, Margaret "Peggy" Ann Dwyer, also of Houston, and Kelly Ann Fenton of Woodbury, Minnesota; a nephew, Patrick James Murphy of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and their children; a cousin, Rev. Jack Hanna, C.S.B.; and many friends.

A Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m., Monday, February 28, 2022 at St. Anne Catholic Community, 2140 Westheimer Road in Houston, Texas.  All are invited to a reception with the family immediately following the Mass.

In lieu of flowers, a donation in Joe's name may be made to St. Thomas High School, 4500 Memorial Drive, Houston, Texas 77007, or to a charity of your choice.