D.C. Simerly, 73, of Hampton, passed away on Wednesday, August 6, 2014, at the James H. Quillen VA Medical Center in Johnson City. He was born on April 14, 1941 to the late Albert and Stella Marie Street Simerly. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by twin infant girls; a brother, Norman; and a special friend, Ronnie Taylor.
D.C. was a United States Army veteran, serving immediately after the Korean War. He was a member of Hampton First Baptist Church. He enjoyed fishing and hunting, gardening, and helping anyone in need and had never met a stranger.
Survivors include his loving wife, Barbara Simerly, of the home; daughters, Linda Collins and husband Sam of Gray, Tenn., and Melanie Shepherd and fiancé Marcus Keene of Blountville, Tenn.; five grandchildren, Sherwin Taylor and husband Butch, Jesse Collins, Morgan Petty, Sierra and Dylan Shepherd; two great-grandchildren, Clay and Chace Taylor; a special nephew, Clinton and wife Amy McKinney and their children, Kory and Autumn; a niece, Victoria Lewis and her son, Derek; brothers, Brooks and wife Sandy, Ed and wife Pat, Gary and Jeannie, Harlan, Nick and wife Betsy; and sisters, Linda Birchfield and husband L.J. and Shelby Hughes and husband Billy Wayne. Many other nieces, nephews and cousins also survive.
A Celebration of Life service for Mr. Simerly will be conducted at 4 p.m. Saturday, August 9, in the Riverside Chapel of Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton, with Rev. Ronnie Campbell officiating. Special music will be provided by “No Name But His,” of which his brother Gary is a member. The family will receive friends in the funeral home chapel from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, prior to the service. Friends are also welcome to visit at the residence at anytime. The graveside service will follow in the Simerly Family Cemetery on Browns Branch Road in the Simerly Creek Community of Hampton. Active pallbearers will be Butch Taylor, O.J. Roberson, Sam and Jesse Collins, Terry Banner, Jeff Guy and Karlas Lambert. Honorary pallbearers will be Albert Deloach, Gary Shingleton, George Smith, Herman Tolley, Jess Whitehead and Steve Hicks. The family would like to especially thank all the doctors and staff of the ICU Department of the James H. Quillen VA Medical Center, for taking such good care of D.C. Those who prefer memorials in lieu of flowers may make donations to Hampton First Baptist Church, 407 First Avenue, Hampton, TN 37658. Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.tetrickfuneralhome.com and signing the guest book.
Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton, is serving the Simerly family. Office: (423) 542-2232. Obituary Line: (423) 543-4917.