Carolyn Ann Eller Heaton

Carolyn Ann Eller Heaton, 80 of Tellico Plains, TN, finished her Earthly journey on Monday, February 13, 2023 and is now in the arms of Jesus, after many long years of struggling with dementia.

Carolyn was born October 14, 1942. She is remembered by her family as beautiful, intelligent, loving, and gracious. She graduated near the top of her class at Everett High School in 1960. In her youth she loved to sing and dance and continued to enjoy listening to hymns and singing along, even in the final stages of dementia.

Carolyn was a member of Brown Hill Church. She concluded her professional career in purchasing at Carlex Glass. Before her illness, she was rarely idle. She enjoyed taking care of her home and her family. She was a wonderful cook and baker with dressing, fried chicken, Christmas cookies, and pumpkin pies among her family’s favorites. Even when she sat down for the evening, she kept her hands busy, making doilies or cross stitching or reading books and magazines.

Trips to the Smoky Mountains and Myrtle Beach were among her favorites. She loved to walk on the beach and pick up seashells. She could spot a four-leaf clover as she strolled across a lawn. She looked in awe at the Grand Canyon even though she wasn’t sure she wanted to visit that “big hole in the ground.” She was a brilliant map reader and navigated 2,282 miles across 11 states during a week-long, northeastern road trip. With the onset of dementia, she was lost to us a little at a time and in so many ways. She was greatly loved and will be greatly missed by all.

Carolyn is preceded in death by her father, Joseph Arthur Eller; mother, Imogene Boring Millsaps; and brother, Tommy Allman.

Carolyn is survived by her loving husband, Troy Heaton, of 62 years, along with three siblings, Sue Eller Boone (Daniel), Dale Allman Ellis (Doug), and Johnny Allman (Nani); and sister-in-law, Liz Allman. She was a much-loved mother to her three children, David Heaton, Troena Heaton Henderson (Lonnie), and Lisa Heaton-Bias (William). She was a grandmother of eight, Christopher Henderson, Tabitha Heaton, Tamara Heaton Gann, Michael Heaton, Andrew Henderson, Jessie Heaton, Troy Heaton, and Joey Heaton, with 15 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild.

Special thanks to the staff of Blount Memorial Home Health and Hospice Services, Hospice of Chattanooga, and NHC Athens for their services and care.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Thursday, February 16, 2023 at Myers Funeral Home. The funeral service will follow at 8:00 p.m. in the chapel with Rev. Bill Moore and Rev. B.J. Wall officiating. Family and friends will assemble at 12:00 noon Friday, February 17, 2023 at Myers Funeral Home and will proceed to Brown Hill cemetery for the 1:00 p.m. committal service with Rev. Josh Duncan officiating. Memorial donations can be made in Carolyn’s honor to Alzheimer’s Tennessee Inc., 5801 Kingston Pike Knoxville, TN 37919.