Gordie Russell Church

Family/Spouse: Unknown. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Gordie married Christine Mary Birchfield about 1946. Christine (daughter of William Grant Birchfield and Bertha Irick) was born on 24 Oct 1920 in Carter County, , , Tennessee; died on 25 May 2004 in Unicoi County, , , Tennessee; was buried in Walnut Mountain Cemetery, , Carter County, Tennessee. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

ELIZABETHTON - Don Steve Church, 72, of Elizabethton, TN passed away Saturday, July 2, 2022 in the Hillview Health Center. He was a son of Gordie and Christine Birchfield Church

In addition to his parents, he was proceeded in death by a sister, Patricia “Patye” Church Heaton in May, 2021.

Don was generous with wit and humor, spinning tales often shading the truth for the sake of sharing a good story. His laughter was always loud and hearty. He was kind and enjoyed his own company apart from the time spent with a very few dear friends and family. He was single and had no children. His dearest friends were his brother Chris Church and cousin Ronnie Heaton and friend Joey Jackson (deceased). He was a man who had talents he rarely made known in his later years such as his creativity in drawing, singing, and playing guitar. He was a shark at billiards. He was a carpenter, a trained welder and worked all over America as a millwright. Don was a shade tree mechanic who preferred older used vehicles to new ones. He enjoyed watching westerns and comedies. He took pride in the house and property he had owned on Sims Hill Road which had belonged to his beloved aunt and uncle, Lorna and Coy Heaton, and where he spent a great deal of his childhood. He lived a life of simplicity and loved it, though it was difficult at times. He suffered a stroke in July, 2021 that left him unable to speak but through hard work he regain his ability to walk and even lived on his own a short time. He fought valiantly. His strongest desire was to go home and now he is.

He leaves his brother, Chris Church, Elizabethton; a sister, Teresa Church West; brother in law, Greg Heaton, Elizabethton; special cousins, Ronnie Heaton (Lisa), Elizabethton, Wanda Heaton McCoury (Lee), Roan Mountain, and Randy Heaton (Gail), Missoula, MT.; nieces Jaime Heaton Norris, Janalan Heaton Setlock (Duane), Megan Heaton, and Kristen Heaton Johnson (Chris), all of Elizabethton; nephews Stephen Heaton and Gregory “Seth” Heaton, both of Elizabethton; and several grandnieces, grandnephews and greatgrands; two friends, Tony Greene and Don Powers, both of Elizabethton.

Graveside Service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday, July 7, 2022 in the Walnut Mountain Cemetery. Pallbearers will be selected from family and friends.

Notes:

Buried:
ELIZABETHTON - Patye Church Heaton, age 64, of Elizabethton, Tennessee was called home on Tuesday, May 11, 2021 from the Johnson City Medical Center. Patye was born in Carter County to the late Gordie and Christine Birchfield Church.

Patye had a long career in nursing, first working in Sycamore Shoals Birthing Center for 10 years, then Johnson City OBGYN, Medial Care of Elizabethton and retired from the Carter County Health Department. She was a lifelong member of Valley Forge Christian Church. Patye enjoyed reading, family time, beach trips and woodworking.

Those left to cherish her memory include her husband of 36 years, Greg Heaton, of the home; six children: Jaime Norris, Stephen Heaton (Christina), Jan Setlock (Duane), Kristen Heaton (Chris Johnson), Gregory Sethpatrick Heaton, all of Elizabethton and Megan Heaton, of Jonesborough; fourteen grandchildren: Noah Norris, Joel Doebbler, Toby Heaton, Julie West, Becky Heaton, Madison Setlock, Bella Setlock, Olivia Setlock, Grant Setlock, Rilye Johnson, Charlotte Johnson, Emma Johnson, Perseus York and Titus York; one great grandhchild, Liam West; one sister, Teresa West, of Elizabethton; and two brothers, Chris Church and Don Church, both of Elizabethton. Several nieces and nephews also survive.

A graveside service to celebrate the life of Patye Church Heaton will be conducted at 10:00 AM on Saturday, May 15, 2021 in the Walnut Mountain Cemetery, Roan Mountain. The family will provide the eulogy.

Patricia married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]