Novella Heaton was a military wife, who became a widow in her late 30s with three children to raise, two of whom were still in elementary school.

“My mother was a super mom. When my Dad became sick and after his death, mom became a SUPER mom. She was not only a mother, but at times was a plumber, mechanic and handywoman. She tried to do it all,” said her daughter, Sandy Huskins.

Novella, 82, died Sept. 19. In addition to Sandy, she was the mother of Patricia Kuykendoll of Powder Springs, Ga., and a son, Steve Heaton of Elizabethton. She also had four grandchildren and two great-granddaughters.

In addition to being a homemaker, Novella had worked for about 15 years as a teacher’s aide at Unaka Elementary School.

Sandy described her mother as “spunky” and very resourceful. “She made all our clothes when we were younger and enjoyed piecing quilts,” said Sandy.

Novella was raised on Blue Springs, one of 11 children. She attended school at the old Blue Springs School and received a GED diploma. “My dad had been in service about 10 years when he and Mom married. He was in Korea and Vietnam, and for about a year we lived in Germany and for a time in Virginia, when he was stationed at Ft. Belvoir and when he worked at the Pentagon.

“Dad was the love of Mom’s life. I don’t recall her ever dating anyone after he died. She devoted herself to her family,” Sandy shared.

“Mom was life-educated. She knew a little bit about everything. When Dad was in service we had to move around a lot, and she was an expert packer. She knew how to get a lot into a small space, whether it be a suitcase, the trunk of a car, etc. She was very innovative,” Sandy said.

“My mother was an excellent cook. Among her favorite dishes to make were spaghetti and meatballs, meatloaf, and she especially enjoyed making cakes,” Sandy said.

Novella had a beautiful voice and sang for a long time in the church quartet at Nidiffer Chapel Free Will Baptist Church, where she was a long-time member. She and her father, an uncle and a cousin made up the quartet. Her favorite song was “In The Great Beyond.”

“She loved her church and church family and was very active in the church until she got dementia,” Sandy said.

Her daughter shared that Novella was a very compassionate and caring person, who took care of her mother and father and helped care for her grandmother when she was in the nursing home. “She not only was a good mother, but she was a good daughter and sister,” Sandy shared.

Novella was also a good grandmother. Known as Nanna to her grandchildren, she especially enjoyed going to their sporting events and hanging out with them.

Novella Heaton had a lot of mother love, the fuel that enabled her at times to often do the impossible. Her kids thought so, anyway. To them she was SUPER Mom.