| Sources |
- [S58] Marriage Certificate.
- [S106] The Mountain Press, 30 Aug 2011.
Doggone: Stacey owes a lot to pooch Nadia
by DEREK HODGES
Stacey Helton, executive assistant at Sevier County Economic Development Council, holds a picture of Nadia, the Belgian Malinois who led her to a husband, a new home, a new job and a family.
Stacey Helton has what she calls “the best job she’s ever had,” a husband she adores and a beautiful 3-year-old daughter with big, brown eyes. And she owes it all to a dog named Nadia.
The Belgian Malinois was just a puppy when the love story begins, being raised by a man named Bobby Mills, who happened to have a connection to Stacey’s family.
Stacey was born in Auburn, Ala., where her clan had moved to let her father attend veterinary school. Once he had that degree, when Stacey was just 1-year-old, they moved back to his hometown of Powell, which is where he started a practice and his little girl grew up.
When she was 18, Stacey made what she concedes was a “stupid” decision shared by two “stupid young kids.” She got married and gave up on her childhood dreams, which were surprisingly varied.
“When I was little bitty, I really wanted to be a school bus driver. I just thought it sounded fun because they got to drive that big bus all the time,” Stacey says with a laugh that scrunches her eyes to a squint. “Later, I decided I wanted to be a forensic pathologist. That sounded fascinating to me. I wish I hadn’t given up on that.”
She took work at her father’s veterinary clinic, then with Knoxville Teachers Credit Union. Her early marriage dissolved and she was wondering what her future held when her father went to see the previously-mentioned Bobby Mills for a regular visit.
“My dad was a veterinarian and he would go out to Bobby Mills’ place and give all his dogs vaccinations,” Stacey explains. “He raised Belgin Malinois and he would always call my dad out when he had a new litter to give them their shots.”
As it happened, the breeder had been working with a Sevierville police officer who wanted to buy one of his dogs, a breed that is regularly used for protection by agencies like the U.S. Secret Service, to serve a dual purpose.
“He wanted to buy a dog as a pet, but he had thought he might train her to do drug work. She just didn’t want to work, though,” Stacey says.
As you might have guessed by now, there’s a reason she knows so much about Eddie Helton, the cop, and Nadia, the dog. The breeder suggested to Stacey’s father that his daughter should let Eddie call her. She agreed, they went on a date and the rest is history.
“We’ve been married eight years now. It will be nine in December,” Stacey says.
Of course, a couple that gets together because of a dog can’t have a run-of-the-mill wedding. They got engaged, but kind of dragged their feet on taking that next step until one December day.
“We had been putting off setting a date and then one day about two weeks before Christmas Eddie told me wanted to be married before Christmas,” Stacey recalls, smiling at the impetuousness of it all. “We decided on a Thursday we wanted to get married that Sunday, but Eddie told me he didn’t want to have an ordinary wedding.
“We got to thinking about it and we decided we would get married in a helicopter. So we went up with the chaplain from the police department and my stepson, Travis, and we got married in the sky.”
They’ve been flying high together ever since. Stacey moved to Sevierville and left her job at the credit union for one with the Sevier County Economic Development Council. The couple has since had a daughter, Anniston, and Stacey has moved into the role of executive assistant, a job that puts her both in the thick of the work and on the ground level.
“This is a wonderful place to work. This is the best job I’ve ever had,” she says. “It does make you feel like you’re having an impact. Sometimes we’ll have somebody call and say they’ve been out of work for six months. They want to know if we can help them. It makes you feel good to be able to tell them, ‘Well, this company is going to be having a job fair.’ Then they call you in a few weeks and tell you they’ve gotten a job. That’s such an amazing feeling.”
So, you see, she’s got the new home, the great job, the loving husband and the adorable daughter, all with credit to Nadia.
“I’ve been pretty lucky,” Stacey says.
dhodges@themountainpress.com
- [S58] Marriage Certificate.
Groom's Name Bride's First Name Bride's Maiden Name County Date of Marriage File #
DONALD TERRY W STACEY J [NOT GIVEN] KNOX 01-02-1988 01127
- [S131] Divorce Record.
Husband's Name Wife's First Name Wife's Maiden Name County Court Date of Divorce File #
DONALD TERRY W STACEY L JENKINS KNOX CIRCUIT 12-10-2001 26845
- [S58] Marriage Certificate.
487374 EDDIE THEOTIS HELTON STACEY LYNNE JENKINS
- [S58] Marriage Certificate.
Groom's Name Bride's First Name Bride's Maiden Name County Date of Marriage File #
HELTON EDDIE T STACEY L JENKINS SEVIER 12-22-2002 74581
|
Search | Advanced Search
[3] 
: Address
: Location
: City/Town
: County/Shire
: State/Province
: Country
: Not Set
= Link to Google Maps