Living

Notes:

ROAN MOUNTAIN — Warren G. Heaton, 89, of Roan Mountain, TN, died peacefully, on December 30, 2011, at his home after an extended illness surrounded by his loving family.

He was a native and lifelong resident of Carter County and Roan Mountain where he lived with his wife of 64 years, Blanche Bateman Heaton, on the family farm cleared by his grandfather, John Bell Radford. He is also survived by his sons and daughters-in-law: Will and Debra Heaton of Lakeland, TN and Larry and Kenny Lou Heaton of Roan Mountain, his grandson Adam Heaton, and step-grandson Nick Street, and great grandsons Dustin and Damon Heaton, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends, all of whom he loved and cherished dearly.

He was predeceased by his grandson Austin Heaton, his step-granddaughter Aimee Street, his brother Milburn Heaton and wife Reba, his brother John Heaton and wife Fay, his sister Cordia Marie Heaton Shull and husband Monte, his parents William Francis and Dollie Radford Heaton.

Mr. Heaton was a 1942 graduate of Cloudland High School, and a lifelong booster and supporter of the school. An exceptional athlete, he was a member of the school's first football team. He attended Milligan College where he played basketball until he joined the military, and served with distinction in the South Pacific during World War II, spending almost three years on Guadalcanal.

Upon his return to Carter County and his beloved Roan Mountain after the war, he and his brother Milburn were merchants and ran a trucking business for several years while also working their family farm where they raised beef cattle and tobacco. He was also employed by the Tennessee Department of Transportation, where he made many friends during his years of working on local highway projects.

He was an avid fisherman, hunter, and gardener and loved sharing his produce with his friends and neighbors.

Mr. Heaton was a lifelong member of Roan Mountain United Methodist Church.

The family extends their sincere thanks for the kindnesses shown by Fallon Hopson and Jon Buck, as well as to the staff of Mountain States Home Health Care and Amedisys Home Health Care and Hospice, especially to Betty, DiAnn, and Tammy, and for the love, prayers, and support of their RMUMC Minister, Dennis Milhorn.

The family requests any memorial donations be made to the Roan Mountain United Methodist Church, 307 Johnson St., Roan Mountain, TN 37687.

The funeral will be held at Roan Mountain United Methodist Church on January 1, 2012 where the family will receive friends from 2:00 until 3:00 p.m., with the funeral services to start immediately afterward. A brief graveside service will then be held at Roan View Cemetery, in Roan Mountain. Pallbearers and honorary pallbearers will be selected from family and friends.

Warren married Blanche B. Bateman on 12 Feb 1947 in Carter County, , , Tennessee. Blanche was born about 1927 in Roan Mountain, , Carter County, Tennessee; died on 24 Apr 2021 in Carter County, , , Tennessee; was buried in Johnson Roan View Cemetery, , Carter County, Tennessee. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Buried:
Blanche Bateman Heaton, born in 1927 in her grandparents’ house on the banks of the Doe River in Roan Mountain, Tennessee, died peacefully at her home on April 24, 2021. Other than spending some of her adolescent years in Swannanoa and Robbinsville, North Carolina, she considered herself a lifelong resident of Roan Mountain where she lived with Warren Heaton, her husband of 64 years until his death in 2011. She is survived by her sons and daughters-in law: Will and Debra Heaton of Lakeland, TN and Larry and Kenny Lou Heaton of Roan Mountain, her grandson Adam Heaton, and step-grandson Nick Street, his wife Celia, and son Sam, and great grandsons Dustin and Damon Heaton, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends, all of whom she loved and cherished dearly. She was predeceased by her grandson Austin Heaton, her step-granddaughter Aimee Street, her brother, Carl Bateman, and her parents Vernon O. and Frankie Bateman.

An exceptional athlete, she was a member of Cloudland’s championship girls’ basketball team. She was known by her family to be an excellent and adventurous cook, a warm hostess, a wise counselor, a loving mother, grandmother, aunt, cousin, and friend, who was also passionate about her dogs, her cats, and her coffee.

She had an unbreakable bond with the mountains of East Tennessee, and she loved noting the seasonal changes, and being a part of nature in her vegetable garden, her flowers, or walking among the rhododendron gardens in full bloom on the top of Roan Mountain. Her favorite scripture she desired shared with everyone summarizes her life and can be found in the first two verses of Psalms 121: I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord which made heaven and earth.

Mrs. Heaton was a faithful member of Roan Mountain United Methodist Church and the Roan Mountain United Methodist Women, where she was active as a church leader and advisor until her illness in the last few years.

The family request any memorial donations be made to Roan Mountain United Methodist Church, 307 Johnson St., Roan Mountain, TN 37687. Because of COVID regulations and concerns, a private graveside service will be held by the immediate family only, with burial at Roan View Cemetery in Roan Mountain with Reverend Dennis Milhorn officiating.

Notes:

"Elizabethton Star," Monday, May 12, 1947
W. F. Heaton Dies After Brief Illness
William Francis Heaton, 59, of Roan Mountain, died in the Appalachian Hospital of Johnson City, Monday at 6:30 a.m. after a brief illness.
Mr. Heaton was a native of Carter County and lived in the county most of his life. He was in the lumber business with W. O. Hampton at Roan Mountain.
He was an active member of the Roan Mountain Methodist Church and had been a member of that church since childhood. He was also a member and past worshipful master of Masonic Lodge No. 566 of Roan Mountain and of the Shriners.
Survivors are his widow, Mrs. Dollie Heaton; three sons, John, Milburn, and Warren of Roan Mountain; one daughter, Mrs. Cordia Marie Shull of Hampton; three sisters, Mrs. W. A. Crumley, Elizabethton, Mrs. Stewart Johnson, Roan Mountain, and Mrs. A. F Tucker, Huntington, West Va.; two brothers, E. F. Heaton and S. B. Heaton, Roan Mountain, and mother, Mrs. John K. Heaton, also Roan Mountain.
Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday at 2 p.m. from the Roan Mountain Methodist Church with the Rev. J. E. Milburn and the Rev. Harry Leonard officiating. Music will be under the direction of W. O. Hampton. Burial will be in Roan Mountain Cemetery with Masonic honors.

William married Dollie Ellen Radford on 6 Jul 1912 in Johnson City, , Washington County, Tennessee. Dollie was born on 16 May 1895 in Roan Mountain, , Carter County, Tennessee; died on 9 Sep 1962 in Carter County, , , Tennessee; was buried in Johnson Roan View Cemetery, , Carter County, Tennessee. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

John married Lucinda Greer on 8 Dec 1888 in Carter County, , , Tennessee. Lucinda (daughter of James A. Greer and Elizabeth Laws) was born on 31 Mar 1872 in Carter County, , , Tennessee; died on 5 Jul 1897 in Carter County, , , Tennessee; was buried in Johnson Roan View Cemetery, , Carter County, Tennessee. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]