Captain Heather Waterman Huneycutt, DVM, 26, of Bunnlevel, N.C., formerly of Shelbyville, passed away Sunday, Aug. 23, 2015 in Harnett County, N.C. She was born March 24, 1989, in Beech Grove, the daughter of John Lewis and Rebecca Sue “Becky” (Martin) Waterman.
On Aug. 2, 2014, she married Warrant Officer Mark Huneycutt, a Blackhawk Aviator, and he survives. Heather and Mark met while working as rickshaw drivers in Raleigh.
Heather graduated from Morristown High School in 2007, Franklin College in 2011, and North Carolina State School of Veterinarian Medicine in May of 2015.
She was a member of Summit Church in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Heather was a captain in the Army Veterinary Corps. She excelled both academics and athletics. Heather had a high GPA in biology and chemistry and her desire to learn was apparent.
Heather ran cross country and track, both at Morristown High School and Franklin College, and she holds records at both schools. In 2010, she competed in the NCAA Division III Women’s Cross-Country National Championship, placing 37th of 279 runners. In 2011, she was selected for the Capital One Academic All-America second team in women’s cross-country and track and field and also earned All-America honors by placing fourth in the 5,000-meter run in the NCAA Division III Championships.
She also became interested in sled dog veterinary care. Heather traveled to Norway and Alaska to sled dog races. During her studies, she was also one of four students selected to travel to Africa to observe the agriculture and to Ontario, Canada to work on a dairy farm.
Heather is also survived by her loving parents of Shelbyville; paternal grandparents, Robert and Barb Waterman of Charlottesville; maternal grandmother, Sylvia Martin of Carthage and her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Don and Julie Huneycutt of Hendersonville, N.C. Heather also leaves behind her dogs, Zaara and Tally and her cat, Bodum.
She was preceded in death by her paternal grandfather, Bill Martin.
Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2015 at Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, Carmony-Ewing Chapel, 819 S. Harrison St. in Shelbyville. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, at the funeral home, with Coach Paul Sargent officiating. Interment will be at Hanover Cemetery in Shelby County, with full military honors.
Memorial contributions may be made to Dr. Heather Waterman Huneycutt Memorial Scholarship Fund, North Carolina Veterinary Medical Foundation, 1060 William Moore Dr, Raleigh, N.C. 27607 or at https://securelb.imodules.com/s/1209/giving/plain.aspx?sid=1209&gid=214&pgid=3813&cid=6343
Select "Other – I would like to make a gift in a different area" , and indicate/type in where you would like the money to be placed: Dr. Heather Waterman Huneycutt Memorial Scholarship
Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.freemanfamilyfuneralhomes.com.
