She was a graduate of Central High School and after years of working at the local TNT plant then DuPont, Theldon followed her passion to help care for others by working for 25 years at Memorial Hospital as a nurse’s aide, heart monitor tech then finally, as a unit secretary. She retired in 2011 to take care of her husband Terry Echols during his illness.
Theldon was a lover of all things Elvis, all things pink and all things sweet, but her greatest loves were her Lord and her family: her brothers and sisters, her daughters, her grand and great grandchildren. One of her favorite pastimes was watching Jimmy Swaggart Ministries. She never met a stranger and ministered to shut-ins with her husband. She was full of joy and loved traveling in her tricked-out red Cadillac where the radio was always on the Elvis channel. She was loved by all!
Theldon was preceded in death by her husband Terry Echols, her daughters Kathy Morgan and Sherry Elkins; her parents Alex and Flora Hartline and Step-mother Lily Hartline; siblings: Bertha York, Eula Weldon, Beulah Mullens, Arlivia Dixon, Ellis Hartline, Rinzy Hartline and, in 2021, her beloved big sister Odell H Gass (nicknamed “pickle”). Also, her partner in crime, Rita Sowder (Aka “Thelma & Louise”).
Survivors include her daughters: Kimberly (David) Sowder of East Brainerd and Angela (Randy) Mitchell of Chattanooga; Her big Brother A.D. (Kay) Hartline of Flat Rock, Alabama; Grandkids: Clifton (Stacey) Morgan of Harrison, TN, Shawn (Sharon) Morgan of Meigs County, TN, Amanda (James) Johnson of Chattanooga, TN, and Kassidy Brannan of Rossville, GA.; Great Grandkids: Scout (Claire) Morgan of Alpharetta, GA, Tatum, Keilyn and Presley Morgan all of Harrison, TN, Jacob Morgan, Isaiah and Jason Kennedy all of Meigs County, TN, McKenzy Cunningham of Chattanooga, TN and Kaylee Brannan of Rossville, GA.
Survivors, also, include many nieces and nephews, especially: Leroy (Debbie) Hartline, Debbie (Spencer) Mason, Terrie (Steve) Willicombe, Karen (Dennis) Hartline Buckelew, John (Karen) Mullens, Lynn (Kevin) Nugent, Gwendolyn (Steve) Puffer, Patty Dixon, Carolyn Spurgeon; special family friends Dottie (Chris) Willmore, Cathy Kranske, Wayne and Carol Hilson, Don and Penny Dougay and Jean Rogers. Her beloved family fur babies, Deebo, Bella and Blue. Special Thanks to Sherry Glover, NP and Hospice of Chattanooga.
Visitation will be on Friday, July 28 from 5 pm – 8 pm, and Saturday from 2pm to 3pm, at the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home. The funeral service will follow on Saturday, July 29, 2023 at 3pm with Pastor Danny Pinter officiating. Burial will be in Hamilton Memorial Gardens.
Please share your thoughts and memories at www.chattanooganorthchapel.com.
Arrangements are by the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory & Florist, 5401 Highway 153, Hixson, TN 37343.
