On July 30th, 2020 we lost our sweet, strong and sassy Heidi.  She was the best example of authenticity, integrity, love, passion, regal beauty and did so with simple, straightforward values that she carried throughout her life without compromise.  She danced, she sang, she laughed and she loved.

Heidi was born in Franklin, New Hampshire to Lynda (Forsyth) Miner and Roger Sherrick on April 6th, 1963.  She lived in Hill, NH her entire childhood, attending school there and in neighboring Franklin.  Although she sought to leave Hill as soon as she could after graduation, her bonds and connections to the area and people of the area continue to this day. She was an excellent student who worked very hard for her academics (she's still frustrated for losing out on the top two in her class :) ). She was an excellent athlete, shining in a number of sports.  Her husband, Seth always noted she had an excellent throwing arm and could still throw a football and fastball with style.  She graduated in 1985 from the University of Vermont with a BS in Biochemistry and was considering pursuing a medical career as her great, great grandfather had.  However, needing a job she decided to take a position in the Nuclear industry where she met her husband of nearly 28 years, Seth Duston.  When her kids would jokingly say later on, "Dad, how did you land mom, she's a catch?" She would always say that she fell for Seth because of his voice and how he treated her with respect as a woman and how he loved her.

In 1994, after a difficult birth of their first child, Beck, they made the decision soon after to put Heidi's career on hold to attend to their growing family.  Heidi and Seth became antique dealers, owning several shops and spending weekends with their kids at auctions or shows. She rounded out their family giving birth to Stowe who was born in 1998 and Neve who was born in 2001, along with her step-daughter, Stephanie Duston.  They would come home from work, grab the kids, and pile them into a stroller before heading out for a daily "coffee and a cookie" at Cere's Street Bakery in Portsmouth, NH. They enjoyed their time in the NH/Maine seacoast area as well as their summer home in Downeast, Maine. They restored a number of 18th/19th century homes in the area including a 1778 Colonial which garnered recognition for its authentic restoration.  Heidi coordinated and did much of the renovation and restoration while caring for the kids.

In 2006, they decided to make a move to Florida for Seth's career. They moved to Palm City and Heidi spent summers at their cottage in Maine with the kids, visiting family, enjoying time together, golfing and antiquing. Her husband, Seth would fly up for weekends and during vacation time. Heidi would always yearn for more time up there with Seth.

Since that time, she has spent all of her time and energy in Florida, following the many accomplishments of her children including music, school, art and soccer and always advocating for all of her children whom she adored unconditionally.  She is remembered by them as a constant teacher of manners, caring for each other and others, academic importance and of course, health.

In Florida, Heidi rekindled her love for tennis and this soon became her second passion outside of family.  She made numerous friends in the tennis community, taking every chance to root on her teammates while playing with a competitiveness that mirrored the passion she had for her family.  She took a job at the US Tennis Association (USTA) as a League Coordinator last year in hopes of continuing to support the game even though she had stopped playing for treatment.  For these past 13 years, tennis was a wonderful source of enjoyment and satisfaction for her and the friendships she made.

She had also had many friends in the local club soccer community and Treasure Coast United/Massive where all three of her kids played. She was a great fan and supporter on the sidelines and they were equally great supporters of her during this time of health challenges.

Heidi was also co-guardian of Seth's mother, Martha Beckwith for nearly 18 years. Caring for her and ensuring she was treated well while in a nursing home in Hobe Sound.  Heidi also loved history and genealogy. One of her proudest accomplishments was helped track down and make contact with Seth's older sister who was giving up for adoption at birth by his mother.  Heidi helped reunite them in 2018 and Lynie Baylor (and husband, Steve) became an important part of Heidi's life since then, bringing a new love to our family that Heidi adored.

Heidi's battles with cancer are well known, first being diagnosed in 2008 and ultimately fighting relentlessly to be a four time cancer survivor.  In 2018, she was diagnosed with a new and different cancer and continued to receive treatment that for most would have been too much to bear.  We often talk about how strong someone is but our Heidi epitomized this.  Her family feels without question that she believed she would be saved by treatment right up until her last moments. That is a level of courage that defines our beloved wife and mother.  She walked into the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa back on 7/19, despite the physical challenges of this disease, still finding time to make messages for her kids and to smile at all of us through photos.  Her sincerity and smile is without question the biggest mark of her beauty and draws people to her.

Heidi is well known for her unusual eyeglasses and her style and fashion sense.  But its important to know that she had very simple needs in life and did not want for anything other than to have a comfortable life with her family.  She loved nothing more than to gently rub/tickle their heads, nurturing them...calming them.  She wanted a family that supported and cared for each other, were responsible citizens and prayed for good health for all of those around her including herself.

Heidi had big plans with Seth and her family that she fully intended to carry out and couldn't wait to spend time as they created their own families.  Spending time watching Neve play college soccer in NC was a source of love for her last year while continuing to battle her illness.  She looked forward to Stowe's officer commission in the Army after attending USF, although nervous for him and proud at the same time.  She was looking forward to seeing Beck's transition from Master's student at FSU to making his place in the world. And she had grown so fond of Stephanie and her accomplishments with her recent progression into a PHD path as well as the artistic passion shared by both Neve and Steph.  She was looking forward as we all were, to life ahead. Heidi loved many people and many loved her.  Those who she was closest know who they are.  Her children carry the best of her within each one of them.

Heidi had so much support over the past year.  Her mother, Lynda, sister, Nancy and Stephanie were instrumental in caring for her when she needed it the most over these past six months.  Her many friends who reached out or cared from a distance as well as family that constantly reached out, often daily, showering her with love and positive and spiritual messages of support.  Of course, her children and Seth were there for her, taking her to appointments and attending to her at home.  Heidi never wanted people to worry about her.  She didn't want the attention. She would bring laughter and normalcy to those who were treating her and those who were also battling the disease beside her.

Heidi had a wonderful love with Seth that strengthened over time and they shared a passion and support for each other that is legendary and unmatched. They danced, attended sporting events, attended EDM music festivals and club shows, went for Sunday drives, went out for coffee and simply enjoyed each other's company.  She will never be forgotten, nor should she be, not even for a moment.  We miss her so much.

Heidi is survived by her husband of 28 years, Seth Beckwith Duston.  Her son's Stowe Sleeper Duston and Beck Somerset Duston.  Her daughter Neve Johanna Duston. Her step-daughter Stephanie Duston-Doughty (and husband, Lee) of Virginia.  Her beloved mother Lynda Miner and her step-father Alfred Miner of Hill, NH.  Her father, Roger Sherrick of Indiana.  Her sister, Nancy Hicks (and husband, Gary) of New Hampshire.  Her brother, Ty Morrison (and wife Camilla) of Vermont.  Her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Peter and Alice Duston in Maine.  She leaves her brother and sister's children who she loves dearly.  She leaves many cousins on both sides as well as aunts and uncles who have supported her as well.  She is pre-deceased by her sister, Terri Morrison and her beloved collie, Sassy Lou.

A memorial gathering will take place 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM,  Friday, August 7, 2020 at Forest Hills Funeral Home, Palm City Chapel.

Please feel free to write a condolence to the family.