Elijah "Ed" Edward Heaton

Elijah Edward Heaton, 88, of Gray, Tennessee, went to be with Jesus on December 20, 2020 after a brief but valiant battle with COVID-19. His strong faith in God brings us peace and comfort in this time of loss.

“Ed” was the son of the late Lige and Hazel Heaton of Roan Mountain TN. He graduated from Cloudland High School and served his country with honor in the 82nd Airborne Division of the United States Army. He then returned to Roan Mountain to run the family business, E. F. Heaton Hardware. In 1966 he moved his family to Charlotte NC where he began a career in trucking with Overnite Transportation Company. In 1972 they moved to Gray TN and he lived in that house until 2020. Ed was proud of his career at Overnite Transportation and enjoyed many great retirement years. Although Ed had moved away from Roan Mountain, his love for the mountains endured. One of the greatest pleasures for him was simply visiting that little community a few times per year.

Following faith and family, he also had a passion for fly fishing in mountain streams the way he was taught by his dad. Ed was one of the most positive people you would ever meet. He always had a warm smile and kind word. He refrained from gossip and coarse language. He was a riveting storyteller, often blending true life drama with homespun humor.

He was known to be a devoted husband, great father and a genuinely good man. He believed in honest dealings and lived a life of humility, compassion and dignity.

Several times, over the years, Ed shared his home with various additional family members in their times of need. The house would be overcrowded and the budget depleted, but helping others was “right” to him. He was a member of Gray United Methodist Church and the Reasoners Sunday School class. He had a heart-felt reverence for prayer and worship. He especially loved saying the Lord’s Prayer and singing traditional gospel hymns.

Mr. Heaton was preceded in death by his aforementioned parents, his soul mate and wife of 50 years, Betty Ann McKinney Heaton and eight siblings: Frank, James, Harry, Annabelle, Corinth, Betty Sue, Eloise and Billy.

He is survived by one son, Keith Heaton and wife Judy of Concord NC; one daughter, Sherri Wilson and husband Ron of Unicoi TN; five grandchildren, Max (wife, Ramona) Bacon, Kelly (husband, Jordan) Pogorelec, Jon Heaton, Lauren Bacon and Austin Wilson; three great grandchildren, Mila, Jack and Ezlynn; and two brothers who he adored, Robert (Brickie) and Paul (Francis).

Private services will be officiated by Rev. Lloyd Jones. The funeral service will be available to view on the Morris-Baker website, under Ed’s obituary page, at 11:00 am Saturday, December 26, 2020, and it will be available to view for 90 days. Interment will take place at Johnson Family Cemetery (Roan View) in Roan Mountain.

Honorary pallbearers include the late George Walker, the late Mike Head, the late Pastor John Hitechew, Morris Wyatt, Jim Slagle, Bill Sluder, and Harold Maupin.

The family would like to thank all the wonderful long-term neighbors on Valleyview Street for the decades of love and support; you have been a true blessing. A special thanks to George and Wilda Walker for taking daddy to church every Sunday when he was not able to drive himself.

We would also like to thank all the caregivers in the COVID ward at The Johnson City Medical Center for their bravery and commitment while fighting this terrible pandemic.

An encouraging promise; “whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are directed to the Salvation Army Covid-19 Relief Fund (https://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/covid19/ or PO Box 1715, Johnson City, TN 37605 or 423-926-2101).

Memories and condolences may be shared with the family via www.morrisbaker.com

Morris-Baker Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 2001 E. Oakland Ave., Johnson City, is serving the Heaton family (423) 282-1521.