Nellie Myrtle Phipps Heaton

Nellie Myrtle Phipps Heaton, age 95, of Johnson City, went home to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Thursday, April 21, 2005 at Johnson City Medical Center. Myrtle was born May 19, 1909, in Johnson County, Tennessee and until just recently was able to recount a lot of stories of her life for the last 96 years. Myrtle was the daughter of the late John Hamilton Phipps who preceded her in death in 1947 and the late Amanda Eliza Wilkins Phipps who preceded her in death in 1972. She was the eldest of eight children. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by three husbands, Luther 'Luke' Elliott, Fred Sammons and Clint Heaton, three brothers, Steve Phipps, Johnny Phipps and Peter Phipps and one sister Leticia Phipps. A nine-year-old son, Ray Elliott, also preceded Myrtle in death in 1940. Surviving Mrs. Heaton is one daughter, Mary Grace Collins, one brother, Coy Phipps, two sisters, Lexie Phipps Garland and Mary Phipps Byrd and her husband, Rev. D. C. Byrd, all of Johnson City, several nieces and nephews and a special niece, Judy Garland Sluder. A celebration of Myrtle?s life will be held on Sunday, April 24, 2005 at 2:00 PM at Morris-Baker Funeral Home South Chapel. Interment will follow services at Monte Vista Memorial Park. The family will receive friends for one hour prior to the service.