Former E-W football standout Josh Heard dies

Josh Heard, a former standout football player for Edmonds-Woodway High, has died at age 35.

His Sept. 28 death was announced on a GoFundMe page created by Lauren Heard, the wife of Heard’s brother, Tony Heard, also a star on Edmond-Woodway’s football team.

Lauren Heard said she believes Josh died from a heart attack. “Josh has touched so many lives in his 35 years and was taken too suddenly from us,” she wrote on GoFundMe. “Josh suffered for many years, and God has called him home.”

She told the Beacon: “Josh was living in Lynnwood and will leave behind his 4-year-old son as well as us, his family including mother, siblings, and all other relatives and friends. He was working in plumbing and just enjoying being a dad. His loss has been an unimaginable tragedy for our family.”

Josh Heard graduated from Edmonds-Woodway in 2007, where in addition to starring on the football team also played basketball. As a senior in 2006, he led the Warriors to a 12-1 record as a running back and linebacker.

With Heard, the Warriors finished 9-2 in 2005 and 8-3 in 2004. In 2005, he rushed for 2,420 yards in nine games, with 31 touchdowns.

Heard played for longtime E-W coach John Gradwohl, who coached at the school since 1996 before retiring before the current season. He later played football at Western Oregon University as a linebacker.