Heather Lenore Grimes, 43, passed away peacefully in her sleep on January 14, 2019. She was born in Gaston County, NC to the late Judy Carolyn Dowell Grimes.

She is survived by her son Noah Crocker; daughter Alexis Grimes Graham and her husband Isaiah Graham; 2 grandsons, Ethan and Zayne. She is also survived by her father Donald Grimes Jr.; sisters Leslie Grimes and Dana Grimes; brother Donald Grimes III and wife Nikki Robbins Grimes; 4 nieces and 7 nephews. In addition to her mother, she was preceded by her sister Shellie Grimes Rush.

Heather was exceptionally smart, which was noticed early in her education. She quickly learned her subjects in school and had a constant hunger for knowledge. Her efforts awarded her the advancement of two grade levels and she graduated high school at the age of sixteen.

Although she was small in stature, Heather had the biggest heart. Her love for her family knew no bounds. She was 88 pounds of endless love. She especially adored her grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. All of them formed bonds with her that will last forever. She was the funny, sassy, cool aunt they loved being around. When she played with the kids, she became a kid again. To see the excitement in her eyes as she interacted with them was truly a special event to witness.

Heather had the most beautiful smile. If she looked at you with her doe eyes as her long spiral curls hugged against her face, you would be caught in her spell. She could get or get away with almost anything by giving you "that look". That magical look came in handy, especially the time she used it to get backstage access with her sisters to meet the band at a Matchbox Twenty concert. The memories made between sisters that summer in Colorado were priceless.

The first to defend you or call you out when you were wrong, Heather was known for her temper and loved for her loyalty. In the words of Shakespeare, "Oh, when she's angry, she is keen and shrewd" and "And though she be little she is fierce". The word fierce best describes Heather. She was a force to be reckoned with if you hurt her or someone she cared about. She knew no fear when standing up for those she loved and did so with heartfelt and powerful intensity.

The competitive spirit within Heather was admired by all. She could run a pool table on you as easily as she could bowl three strikes in a row and get a big flashing turkey. Her voice was the loudest in the stands when she cheered on Alexis at softball games and Noah at soccer games. She was her children's biggest fan. Her competitive spirit carried over into her love of the Atlanta Braves and Chipper Jones. Go Braves!

Heather loved collecting baseball cards, buying lottery tickets, building big trucks, arranging flowers, and cooking. Her chicken casserole was the favored dish at family gatherings. She loved the beach and going on family vacations. The more family around, the merrier her spirit. She basked in the presence of her family.

Because Heather was funny, warm, and loving, spending time with her and confiding in her was easy. When you were in her company, you wanted to stay. She had a quirky sense and humor and her quick-witted retorts would have everyone rolling on the floor laughing. The inside jokes she shared with her siblings will be repeated and shared for years to come. Heather was fearless, confident, and brave. She believed she had the strength to move mountains.

Heather was adored as a daughter, sister, aunt, niece, cousin, friend, mother, and grandmother. She loved and adored her children and grandchildren. They were her greatest accomplishments and being loved by Heather was her greatest gift. Heather will be missed here on earth, but her family takes solace in knowing her sense of humor will keep Mom and Shellie rolling on the streets of gold as they laugh with her.

Visitation: Saturday, January 19, 2019 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Harris Funeral Home, Kings Mountain, NC

Memorial Service: Saturday, January 19, 2019 at 2:00 PM

Harris Funeral Home Inc, Kings Mountain, NC