Heather “Maddie” Madeline Lathem, 13, passed away March 14, 2017. Maddie’s light and life will be celebrated at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 18, 2017 at the Childress Church of Christ with Trey Morgan officiating, assisted by Zach Galbraith. Burial will follow in Garden of Memories Cemetery in Paducah under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home. Visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m. Friday at Johnson Funeral Home. Maddie was born to Hunt and Hannah Lathem on November 10, 2003 in Childress. She was named after her aunt Heather, who shared her dramatic flare. She was preceded in death by her maternal grandmother, Cheryl “Nanny” Essary Ryan, who surely welcomed Maddie at Heaven’s gates. She is survived by her loving parents and her brother, Sam; her grandfather, Randall (Shirley) Ryan of Childress; her grandparents Marc and Kay Lathem of Amarillo; aunt Serena (Clint) Davidson of Amarillo; aunt Heather (Lane) Sharp of Electra; uncle Paul (Jennifer) Ryan of Bluff Dale, Texas; uncle Zack (Beth) Ryan of Roswell, New Mexico and bestie cousins: Ryan, Donny, Ashley, Hunter, Belle, Kate, Barrett and Emmy. Maddie was in the seventh grade at Childress Junior High School where her favorite subject was history and where she treasured her teachers and friends. She inherited her love of reading from her mother. She especially loved the “Goosebumps” series. She was known to get very excited to receive a Barnes and Noble gift card! Maddie tumbled and flipped through four years of gymnastics, and you could see the dance and twirl throughout her day. Maddie’s cute twist of words and sayings brought laughter to all around her. She certainly inherited her father’s sense of humor. Maddie had a sweet, pure spirit, a beautiful smile and an infectious laugh. She lived her short life with great passion and free of judgement. Maddie loved unconditionally and brought enthusiasm to every single moment. A gofundme.com account has been created to receive donations. In lieu of flowers, you may send donations to the Epilepsy Foundation/Camp Neuron in Kerrville, Texas, 1-888-548-9716 or www.eftx.org. Maddie, thank you for teaching us how to be fully present, living and loving every moment with such vibrance, purity and transparency. We love you to the moon and back.