Sherman Lee "Tank" Heaton, 79, of Dawsonville, died Oct. 22, 2014.

Born Sept. 11, 1935, in Cullman, Ala., he had been a resident of Dawson County for the past five years, coming from Chiefland, Fla.

Mr. Heaton served in the U.S. Air Force for more than 20 years and was a Vietnam Veteran.

Mr. Heaton also retired from AT&T Pardyne.

He served on the board of directors of the Vietnam Veterans of America, Dawson County Chapter No. 970.

His first wife, Sylvia Heaton; and a son, Anthony Heaton, preceded him in death.

Survivors include his wife, Pat Heaton of Dawsonville; children, Janet Berthiaume of North Conway, N.H., Dean Heaton of St. Augustine, Fla., Michael Heaton of Butzbach, Germany, Carey Poole of Gainesville, Debbie Poole of Cumming, Chelsea Milstead of Carrollton, Adam Newsome of Ball Ground; 17 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; sisters, Myrna Burleson of Pell City, Ala., Marilyn Sellers of Mt. Olive, Ala.; brother, Randy Heaton of Birmingham, Ala.; various other relatives also survive.

Memorial services were held at 11 a.m. Oct. 24 in the Bearden Funeral Home Chapel with the Vietnam Veterans of America, Dawson County Chapter No. 970 in charge. Interment will be held at Florida National Cemetery at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations were requested made to the Vietnam Veterans of America, Dawson County Chapter No. 970, P.O. Box 1205, Dawsonville, GA 30534.
Bearden Funeral Home of Dawsonville was in charge of the arrangements.