Hazel Frances Cates Heaton, of Elizabethton, TN passed away on her 96th birthday Friday, March 25, 2016 in the Hermitage Health Center following a brief illness. A native of Hampton, TN she was the daughter of the late George Edward and Amelia Crowe Cates. Mrs. Heaton was a cosmetologist. She was a member of First Christian Church, Elizabethton where she was involved in church work. Mrs. Heaton was a U.S. Navy veteran having served in World War II. She enjoyed arts and crafts, cooking and taking care of others.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Fred Allen Heaton; a brother, Clyde Cates and a nephew, David Cates. Those left to cherish her memory include three daughters, Lois Shell and husband Maurice; June Shepard and husband Roger and Joyce Church and husband Tony, all of Elizabethton; a brother, Carl Cates and wife Nell, Elizabethton; two sisters, Pearl Calhoun and husband Raymond, Hampton and Charlotte Carter and husband Bob, Elizabethton; a sister-in-law, Helen Cates, Hampton; three grandchildren, Derek Stanley, Tyler Church and wife Amber, all of Elizabethton and Amber Gilliam and husband Matt, Murfreesboro, TN; three great-grandchildren, Noah Gilliam, Alexandra Gilliam and Blake Gilliam, all of Murfreesboro, TN. Several nieces and nephews also survive.
A service to honor the life of Hazel Frances Cates Heaton will be conducted at 1:00 P.M. Monday, March 28, 2016 in the Sunset Chapel of Hathaway-Percy Funeral and Cremation Services with Mr. Michael Klaus, Mr. John H. Smith and Mr. Nathan Hall, ministers officiating. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 11:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M. on Monday prior to the funeral service or at the residence at other times. Graveside service and interment will follow the funeral service on Monday in Happy Valley Memorial Park. Active pallbearers will be Leonard Febuary, Dr. David Mills, David Shields, Randy Tadlock, Steve Dunlap, Tim Broyles, Walter Heaton and Jeff Campbell. Honorary pallbearers will be Mrs. Heaton’s brothers-in-law and nephews.
Those who prefer memorials in lieu of flowers may make donations to the Building Fund, First Christian Church, 513 Hattie Avenue, Elizabethton, TN 37643. The family would like to express a special thank you to Amedisys Home Health Care, Dr. Vivian Clark and the staff of Hermitage Health Center for their loving care. Online condolences may be sent to the family and viewed by visiting our website at www.hathawaypercy.com. Hathaway-Percy Funeral and Cremation Services is serving the Heaton family. Office: (423) 543-5544.