Mr. Roger Ford Heaton, 86, of Hartwell, passed away at his home on Sunday, April 2, 2023.

Born on April 7, 1936, in Hartwell, Georgia, he was the fifth of eight children born to the late Hubert Thomas Heaton and Olivia Ford Heaton.  He graduated from Hartwell High School in 1954, after which he enlisted in the U.S. Army, where he served in Korea following the Korean Conflict. He met his future wife, Kathryn, on a blind date in 1956 and they married six months later on December 22. They remained married for 59 years until her death in 2016.

Mr. Heaton graduated from the University of Georgia in 1964 with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration.  He started his career as an insurance salesman for Life of Georgia and later, with Reserve Life Insurance. In 1969, he and his wife and family moved back to Hartwell from South Georgia, and he started his own businesses.  Mr. Heaton was owner/operator of Heaton Mobile Homes, Heaton Realty and finally, Heaton Investment Properties.  Mr. Heaton was a member of the First Baptist Church of Hartwell and a former Deacon.

Mr. Heaton is survived by a daughter: Kimberly Heaton Brown (Robert) of Atlanta; a son: Kevin R. Heaton (Jennifer) of Hartwell; a brother: Paul Heaton (Marietta) of Riverside CA; a sister: Elizabeth Moore of Hartwell; eight grandchildren: Sydney Brown, Griffin Brown, Heather Heaton, Max Heaton, Sam Heaton, Aereyona Heaton, Olivia Heaton and Aleesha Heaton and a great-grandchild: Mary Katherine Heaton.  Mr. Heaton was preceded in death by his parents; his wife: Mary Kathryn Wilson Heaton; a son: Christopher Heaton; two grandsons: Chandler Ford Brown and Robert Thomas "Tad" Brown; a sister: Margaret Miller and four brothers: Joe Heaton, Billy Heaton, Burkley Heaton, and Hugh Frank Heaton.

Throughout his life, Roger had a heart for those less fortunate than himself and would literally give "the shirt off his back" to anyone in need. His strong work ethic began as a boy picking cotton on his family's farm, catching rabbits as a boy to sell, working the night shift at a local mill while in high school, and working full-time during college to take care of his growing family. He remained humble throughout his life, giving God the glory and his family the credit for supporting and encouraging him in all his many business ventures. He leaves a legacy of love, gratitude, and generosity to his family and friends; truly, his was a life well-lived.

A memorial service celebrating Mr. Heaton's life will be held Monday, April 10, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall of the First Baptist Church of Hartwell with Dr. Stuart Lang and Rev. Carter Tucker officiating. A reception will follow the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church of Hartwell, 81 E. Howell Street, Hartwell GA 30643 or to Gideons International, Hart Co. Camp, PO Box 59, Hartwell GA 30643.

The Strickland Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Hartwell is in charge of all arrangements.