Edward Elmer Heyler “Ed” age 100 of Westfield passed away at home on Tuesday, May 19, 2026 with his loving family by his side. Born August 25, 1925, in Nauvoo, PA, he was the son of the late Elmer and Alta (Young) Heyler. Edward was married to Dorna B. Mudge on May 17, 1947. Before Dorna’s passing they had celebrated their 73rd Wedding Anniversary.

He is survived by a brother, Frederick Heyler of Nauvoo, PA, his children, Sam (MaryEllen) Heyler of Watsontown PA, (daughter-in-law) Constance Heyler of Westfield PA, Dick Heyler of Gillett PA, Martin (Joyce) Heyler of Westfield PA, and Nancy (David) Resseguie of Brockport NY; 10 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren; he is also survived by two special daughters—Gail Hendershot and Cathy McNeeley. Edward was preceded in death by his son Daniel Heyler, his parents Elmer and Alta Heyler and siblings Earl Heyler, Romayn Heyler, Margaret Raker, and Mary Reed.

In his life he had many interests and pursuits to which he devoted much time and energy; they could be summed up in three words: family, faith and farming. He enjoyed traveling—local, national, and international, but his favorite was to wander the back roads discovering new sights along the way. Ed also loved farming and was surrounded by fields, livestock, flowers and vegetables. This love grew from the fact that he, along with his wife Dorna, managed a successful business—Heyler’s Farm and greenhouse from 1953 to the present. In fact, days before and after his 100th birthday, Ed was driving his tractor to and from the fields and raking hay.

Ed received his B.A. degree in Agriculture Education from Penn State in 1950 and his Masters Degree in Agriculture Education in 1965. He was an Agriculture teacher in the Northern Tioga School District, primarily at the Cowanesque Jr Sr High School where he taught for 35 years. He, along with his wife Dorna was awarded an Honorary Keystone Degree as well as an Honorary American Farmer award. He was a lifelong Republican and never missed a chance to vote.

He was a member of the Westfield United Methodist Church and lately of the Cowanesque United Methodist church, where at the end of his tenure in the churches he served as a trustee, a board member, a Sunday School Teacher, and a lay speaker. Taking this pursuit to a higher level, Edward became an accomplished Lay Speaker and led services in many churches throughout the area. You knew he was speaking when he began his services with the words: “I’d like to begin by telling you a funny little story.” He always said that God had a sense of humor. At one point in his career he began to officiate at funeral services, comforting many friends, relation, and community members as they mourned.

Ed was also a lifelong member of the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau. This was a result of his deep love for the land. It was not uncommon for people to stop at his farm for advice on gardening farming, building, raising kids, or spiritual guidance. His heart was also open to these people in need of nourishment be it physical, spiritual or emotional, or just to reconnect after years away from Westfield. When he was 97 years old, Ed was awarded the Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award, a statewide award given to one person who contributed to agriculture in Pennsylvania. Ed traveled to Harrisburg to accept the award and deliver a speech to a room of over 600 Farm Bureau dignitaries and representatives. Ed’s speech to the crowd encapsulated his philosophy of life and was received with a standing ovation at the end.

Ed touched many lives with his approach to kindness and service to his farm, his faith, and his family. The Reverand Gere Reist commented that, “Ed truly lived his faith.” Services are the following: a viewing will be held from 5 to 7 pm on Friday May 29 at the Kenyon Funeral Home in Westfield, PA. The following day, May 30th, services will be held at the Westfield Methodist Church: a viewing from 11 to 1 pm, and a funeral at 1 pm. to be followed by a graveside committal with military honors, and at the same time a Cookie and Pie reception will be held in the Westfield Methodist Youth Center.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Cowanesque United Methodist Church, Westfield, PA 16950. This is a time for fellowship and stories—reconnections and laughter. For as Ed always said, God likes laughter, smiles, and kindness.