Nathan Ruggles Heard, 74, of Urbana died at 9:20 pm on October 14, 2016, at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana. Cremation rites will be accorded at Renner Wikoff Chapel. A memorial service and burial will take place at a later date at Mt. Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge, Mass.

Nathan was born December 22, 1941, in Augusta, Maine, the son of Nathan Heard and Florence Holyoke Heard. They preceded him in death, as did a sister, Deborah, in 1951.

After graduation from Cambridge High and Latin School he attended Boston University. After college he traveled widely in the United States, Mexico, and Europe before returning to Cambridge. Among his jobs, he was a distributor of Shaklee health products. His interests included Tai Chi, reading, classical music and old movies. In 1978 he married Margaret Stewart of Newburgh, N.Y. They had no children, but Nathan was a father to Margaret's daughter Kelly. Margaret and her daughter are both deceased. Nathan moved to Urbana in 1998.

He leaves his longtime companion Linda Ferguson, his sister Barbara Gladney (Frank) of Pasadena, Calif., a nephew and two nieces. His warm spirit and sense of humor will be missed by family and friends.

Memorial Contributions may be made to ACES Recovery Options, 2917 no. B1 Crossing Court, Champaign, Ill. 61822, c/o Dr. John Peterson.