Heather Jenae Ash Bishop
March 1, 1969 - November 4, 2022

Heather passed on November 4 after several weeks at UCSF ICU due to complications from a kidney transplant that took place in May 2022. She was surrounded by her husband and children as she passed with love and peace.

When she was young she loved soccer and running. Growing up with five brothers, she was thoroughly a tomboy and proud of it. She grew up in Utah in the 1970s and 1980s and moved to California when she was 16. Summer in Utah was spent celebrating the summer rains by jumping through puddles or floating down the local canal on inner tubes. She moved to the Humboldt area in 1989, attending College of the Redwoods, where she met Clarke Bishop in a photography class. They were married on December 17, 1990.

She would have celebrated 32 years of marriage to Clarke Bishop on December 17, 2022. She was very proud of this commitment and always worked to show that going through life together meant going through many different lifetimes and iterations of self. She was deeply grateful for the support of her husband through the years of kidney disease and especially the care he provided doing in-home dialysis for 3 years. The experience of their challenges is not what defined them, but their great love for each other, their children, and their lives together.

Heather gave birth in 1991 and 1993, first with Shenae, then her son Wohali. She gave her all to her children, sacrificing time and sleep to get them to all their sports practices and travel to races, games, and tournaments. These sacrifices led to many academic and athletic accomplishments for both Shenae and Wohali. Knowing how proud she was of them will give them strength in their lives forever.

The similarities between Heather and her children include a deep and sensitive heart, goofiness, kindness, a strong spirit, a love for cooking, and a love for the world. Along with some healthy stubbornness and a strong sense of self.

She loved to play with clay, making sculptures and designs. She was an artist in many mediums including collage, clay, painting, and photography. Artists and teachers run in the family and Heather was no exception. She constantly taught patience and joy by bringing art into all activities.

Heather was a gregarious joyful person that always strived to see the good in any situation. She spent nearly two decades working with the children of the Humboldt County community, from her time at Healthsport Kid’s Corner to working at a children’s center temporary shelter in Eureka, and everywhere she found some need.

Over the years while attending College of the Redwoods she earned an Associates Degree in Fine Art Photography, an Associates Degree in Business, and a certificate in Addiction Studies.

She worked for the County of Humboldt as a Substance Abuse Counselor for seven years, specializing in women’s groups and group art therapy. Supporting her clients through recovery while dealing with her chronic kidney failure was a major accomplishment. She led her life in a way that always served those in need, leaving a legacy her children are determined to live up to.

She is survived by her husband Clarke Bishop, her daughter Shenae Bishop, her son Wohali Bishop, her brothers Jonathan Ash, Adam Ash, Nathan Ash, Joseph Ash, and William Ash; her father Fred Ash, her step-mother Louella Jean Ash, and her mother Teresa Whitehawk; her nieces and nephews Issac Ashlind, Eliot Ashlind, Genevieve Ash, Jalen Ash, Makani Ash, Jiaxin Ash, Nakai Ash, Mikel Ash, Emma Ash, Esme Ash, Alia Ash, Joey Ash, Olivia Ash, Penni Ash, and Sophi Ash.

The family would like to invite anyone whose life was touched by Heather, to come for the memorial service and reception that will be held Saturday, March 4, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., at the Arcata First Baptist Church 1700 Union St. Arcata. This commemorates her birthday on March 1, 1969.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Heather Bishop’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.