OAKFIELD, Maine — Friends and family gathered Saturday at the Bethel Pentecostal Church in Oakfield to honor an Oakfield couple for the positive impact they made on those around them.
Mourners were lined up into the street, as about 600 people filed into the church to pay their final respects to Heidi Pratt, 49, and Michael Kitchen, 51, and their families in a joint memorial service on Sept. 28.
The Oakfield couple was shot and killed in their home on Sept. 23.
Paul Suitter, son of Pratt, spoke to the audience that filled the main sanctuary and spilled into a secondary area, portraying words of deep affection.
“When I think about my mom, the one word that comes to mind is love,” he said. “I know my Mom loved me deeply. But, my Mom loved so many people and so many things. She loved her job and her ‘kids.’ So often we would have conversations where all she wanted to do was [to better herself] and to get things for the kids. You could tell how much she loved them. She would say to me, ‘I really love what I am doing because I know I am making a difference in people’s lives.’
“She loved this community whether it be volunteering at the railroad museum, park or if someone needed a benefit, she was there cooking, donating or getting donations,” he added. “She loved her friends. I think that is evident by how many people are here today. I don’t think she could have a best friend because they were all her best friends.
“She loved our family. She literally used to count down the days — to have a running count — of the next time we would have a reunion or holiday celebration.
“And, my Mom loved Mike,” he said. “They were everything to each other. They were inseparable. If I or anyone else could have what they had between each other, just for a little while, we’d be very fortunate. So, all I would ask is if your mom is here today or the next time you see her, give her a hug and hug her again for me and say ‘I love you.’”
Ken Bustard, a good friend to Mike and Heidi, noted how difficult it was for Paul to stand up and share his thoughts.
“This is more than his mom,” he said. “This is his best friend.”
Bustard also said, “Paul will have a mark in this world because of the devotion of his mom and the sacrifices she made.”
Suitter is a Bates college graduate and is in his second year of Harvard Law School. About a dozen of his friends of Harvard Law attended the funeral to support him.
Bustard read a letter from Heidi’s sister Brenda Hersey.
“She struggled over this,” Bustard explained. “She spoke from her heart.”
The first part of the letter was for Heidi.
“Forty-nine years ago, I was skipping along the road of life with not a care in the world and along came a big pothole. A baby? What do you mean you are bringing home a baby? Barbie? What do you mean you are going to name her Barbie? Well, I was having nothing to do with that. And, since I had just seen a movie about a girl and her grandfather who lived on a mountain, I thought a way cooler name would be Heidi,” Brenda wrote.
“For quite a few years, we skipped along the road of life together,” she continued. “Sometimes, taking our own little side roads and each hitting her own potholes. When one of these side-road potholes would happen, I knew for sure, my sister and I had each other’s backs.
“Twenty-six years ago, my sister did the greatest thing of her life,” Brenda penned. “Paul Edwin Suitter was born. And man, from Day One, she was his biggest supporter. If anyone needed to know what love looked like, they just had to look at her looking at him. She was so proud of him and rightfully so. She was his biggest cheerleader.”
Bustard went on to say as he read the social media over the last week, he shared the heart of the community and could feel its hurt. As he thought on Heidi’s name, this came to mind:
H — is for happy — that is why people liked to be around her.
E — is for extrovert — “I would ask Mike if he ever thought he could get Heidi out of her shell,” said Bustard. “He would fold his arms, grin and shake his head.”
I — Heidi was a person of integrity — “Heidi got a hand up [when life got rough], not a hand out, and returned that favor because of her incredible integrity by doing the same for others,” Bustard said.
D — Heidi was a delight — Each post on Facebook noted her “infectious, contagious smile.”
I — Heidi is an invaluable friend — “I don’t need to expound on that, if you knew her,” said Bustard. “If she was your friend, and I don’t know who wasn’t, she not only knew you and valued you, she was an integral part of your life.”
Bustard read a card Heidi recently sent for her and Mike to his brother on his neice’s death.
“There are no words that we can say to make the hurting any less. Just know that you and your family are in our thoughts. We never know and sometimes never understand why things happen and the way they do. But, with love and support from family and friends, we manage to pull through. You have our love and support now and anytime in the future that you may need it.”
Those might have been the last words penned by Heidi and Bustard said, “That expresses her heart.”
The second part of Brenda’s letter continued, “Nine years ago, another amazing thing happened. Heidi and Mike met each other. You know those stories about people meeting each other and they are soul mates, meant for each other, love at first sight, sappy stuff that makes you want to gag … that was Mike and Heidi.
“They were so happy together and truly loved each other. I guess there is some truth to all that sappy stuff, because they were the poster children for it. I loved Mike because he loved my sister. He made her so happy. When Heidi was happy, everyone was happy. They both had the most infectious smiles. They brought out the best in each other and were the best friends. They loved each other unconditionally. They loved their families, their friends and the little towns they lived in. They loved motorcycling with all of their biker friends — this would be one of those little side roads that I talked about previously — really, motorcycling?
“And volunteering for various causes. So much love for so many. I love you Mike and Heidi and I am not sure how I am going to make it around this pothole. But, one thing for sure, in the rough road ahead, I will have your back.”
Thinking of Mike’s name these words were reflected:
M — Mike is a mechanic — “A trade that he loved. A trade that was his calling. He had no formal training, but he worked with his Dad and learned the ropes. He had a natural intuition,” said Bustard. “Everyone of you have a calling in your life. Does your calling make an impact on the lives of others?”
I — Mike was a man of integrity — “Mike knew integrity is so much more important than popularity,” Bustard explained. “Because when you compromise to gain, you lose whatever you gain.”
K — Mike was just simply a kind person — “Mike manifested kindness,” Bustard added. “This week when visiting his father he said, ‘sometimes I would get a little befuddled or upset, Mike would look at me and say ‘Don’t go there.’”
Lastly, E — No other word except, easygoing — “He understood bitterness would rob you of your focus and cause you to wander,” said Bustard. “Mike never held bitterness in his heart, or at least none that I saw evidence of.”
Bustard shared a story Mike had told him about people who couldn’t pay their bill at the garage for one reason or another. Bustard told Mike to hold their vehicle. But, Mike said, “People sometimes just need a help and they need a hand.”
Rev. Wayne Robertson of the Houlton Wesleyan Church said, “This is important for us to be together. Certainly to honor Mike and Heidi and to give tribute to their lives. It is important to care for each other and Mike and Heidi’s families and for our communities.”
Robertson admitted sometimes there are times in life that do not make sense, sometimes it is even confusing, as we say things like life is not fair and why does this happen?
“We’ve all had losses in our lives and wonder how are we going to get through it,” he said. “I have found God’s presence to be so strong at times and has been my strength and my comfort.”
Robertson, who had Mike for a mechanic for the last 17 years, said the couple touched many lives.
“So many of us will cherish and remember them always,” he said. “If you saw them together, often times they were smiling, big smiles.”
Robertson encouraged those to reflect on the good memories and happy times purposely.
“It is invaluable to all of us and certainly to you as a family,” he said. “Those things bring us comfort and hope. We realize Mike and Heidi have touched our lives and many lives here and beyond our own communities. I am thankful in the midst of life, sometimes it just doesn’t make sense, my hope and the peace in my heart and the strength I find from the Lord keeps me going and he will for all of you as well, as we look to Him and listen to Him.”
Throughout the service, the speakers hit upon the common thread of the support of a town and a community.
“These are wonderful towns we call home,” said Robertson.
Bustard added, “Looking out here today, I am reminded and so thankful to have my roots planted in Aroostook County … you are part of the healing process. Just your very presence here and words you may speak. We have a great community and today we are going to leave here stronger.”
As the service closed, an interment was held at the Oakfield Cemetery and the precession was led by the United Vets Motorcycle Club.
“Something changed for us Monday, our little towns,” Rev. Sterling Lawrence addressed in his opening prayer. “In times of trouble we can run to a great rock in a weary land. Our land is weary. There is much that has happened and much that is transpiring.”
Deaths have community impact
It has been a rough week for our town. Two wonderful people were taken from their families, friends, and from our community. Such a brutal crime makes no sense to anyone. We have been shaken to our very core and robbed of our innocence.
Suddenly our homes feel less secure; our town lacking hope and optimism. Something like this happens in Boston, New York or Detroit. Not here. Not in Aroostook County.
Mike Kitchen and Heidi Pratt were upstanding members of the community who would do anything for their neighbors. My thoughts and prayers are with their families at this time. In this period of grief we must pull together as one. We are no longer just neighbors … we are a family.
— Taylor Locke
Oakfield Selectman
