Chris ‘Christo’ Heavener mourned after short battle with cancer

A beloved Sunshine Coast grandfather has been remembered as an “easy going man” and “good to the bone” after a heartfelt send off which drew hundreds of people together.

Tributes are flowing for a beloved grandfather, surfer and board repairer after a heartfelt send off at a popular Sunshine Coast beach.

Currimundi grandfather Chris “Christo” Heavener died on October 15 after he was diagnosed with cancer in his gallbladder, liver and bones in August. He was 77.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Dale, their two daughters and five-year-old granddaughter.

Mrs Heavener said her husband was originally given six months to live. They would have celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary in January 2024.

She described her late husband as an “easygoing” man who adored their granddaughter.

The couple met in Sydney in 1968 and were married in 1969 before moving to Boondall in north Brisbane where they started their family.

Chris "Christo" Heavener (pictured here in 2016) died on October 15 after a short battle with cancer.

Mr Heavener worked as a licenced customs agent and later joined Qantas at Brisbane Airport, but had a passion for surfing.

“He was always into boards and he’d been taught by shapers when he was a teenager, so he always made his own boards and his friends,” Mrs Heavener said.

It was this passion which led to establishing Christo’s Surf Designs, a small board repair and shaping business Mr Heavener ran out of the family garage.

When the couple retired and moved to Currimundi in 2007, Mr Heavener continued his with passion of surfing, becoming heavily involved in the Caloundra Malibu Club as a photographer.

Mrs Heavener said he her husband had joined the club even before they retired.

About 60 surfers entered the water at Moffat Beach on November 11 to farewell beloved board shaper and repairer Chris "Christo" Heavener. Photo: Julie Behrens

After his death, it was the club who organised a paddle out on November 11 at Moffat Beach, something Mrs Heavener said her husband would have wanted.

“It was absolutely wonderful, a wonderful way to be sent off … Chris hated formal funerals,” she said.

“He would have been totally thrilled to see it go off like that.”

Former club president John Thurtell estimated 100 people turned up, and tributes and stories about Mr Heavener were shared before 60 surfers entered the water and scattered his ashes. This was followed by six rounds of ‘three cheers’.

Mrs Heavener said she had no idea how many people would turn up.

“He was also the member of a music group and another group who met at Happy Valley sometimes. He was sort of spread around,” she said.

Chris "Christo" Heavener passed away age 77 after a short battle with cancer. Photo: Supplied

Mr Heavener was a lover of Hawaiian shirts and often greeted people with “Aloha” or “Mahalo”. Mr Thurtell said he “wanted to be Hawaiian in a past life”.

Mrs Heavener said her husband often visited Hawaii when he worked with Qantas, each time bringing back a fish hook.

Mr Thurtell described Mr Heavener as “softly spoken” and said he never said a bad word about anyone.

“He liked to live in harmony with people. He was a good person to the bone,” he said.

“When he spoke, people listened”.