Roberta Simerly
Published 4:31 pm Tuesday, April 3, 2018
Roberta Simerly, 86, Johnson City, passed away Monday, April 2, 2018, at Wellmont Hospice House in Bristol. A native of Butler, she was the daughter of the late Harry E. Wolfe Sr. and Jennie Eggers Wolfe.
In addition to her parents, Roberta was preceded in death by her first husband, Glen G. Curtis, in 1961; her second husband, Fred W. Simerly, in 2013; her sisters, Verna Lee Depau, Mary Smith and Burl Honeycutt; and her brother, H.E. Wolfe Jr.
Roberta was a member of First Christian Church and attended Wyn-A-Coupla Sunday School Class until her health prevented her from going. Roberta was also a member of the Johnson City Women’s Club and the Monday Club. She served on the board of the Johnson City Symphony and the Atlanta Symphony as Fundraising Chairperson. Roberta was active in the Emmaus Community for a number of years. She and her late husband Fred were dedicated supporters of Milligan College. Roberta was a former President of the News and Neighbor League Club in Atlanta. She was a former manager of Sharon Luggage in Charlotte. She had also worked for the Prescription Shop Drug Stores in Johnson City and the Atlanta Merchandise Mart.
Her greatest day was the day she gave her life completely to the Lord. She liked playing bridge, but Roberta mostly enjoyed watching her great-granddaughter sing and dance.
Those left to cherish Roberta’s memory include her daughter, Vikki Kaleel and husband Steve, Jonesborough; a son, Todd Eldridge Simerly, Plymouth, Calif.; a granddaughter, Lauren Elizabeth Fraundorf and husband Samuel, Atlanta, Ga.; her great-granddaughter, Avery Elizabeth Fraundorf; her sisters, Clara Scalf, Charlotte Lewis Bliss and Voleen Fletcher, all of Elizabethton, and Elizabeth Wheat and husband Joe of Nashville; her brother-in-law, Bobby Gene Simerly and wife Sara; and special niece, Glenda Britt, Chicago, Ill. Several other nieces and nephews also survive.
The family will greet friends to share memories on Thursday, April 5, from 11 a.m. until a Celebration of Roberta’s Life at 12 p.m. at First Christian Church, Johnson City, with Mr. Ethan Magness, minister, Dr. Eddie Fine, minister, Mr. Gene Wiggington, minister, and Mr. Donald Mushayamunda, minister, officiating. Music will be under the direction of Mike Imboden. An entombment will be held in the Mausoleum Chapel of Happy Valley Memorial Park following the service at the church. Active pallbearers will be Danny Fletcher, Randy Watkins, Rusty Lewis, Grayson Leake, Grant Leake and Jay Dugger. Honorary pallbearers are Martha Gouge, Missy Humphreys, Janene Allen, Lucy McPherson, Betty Anderson and Roberta Redman. Roberta’s family would like to offer a special thank you to Melissa Leake, her sweet niece, Sherry Williams, Debi Camden, Carol Dubay, Helen Harrison, Christine Bales, Laura Vanderkrol, Teresa Davis, and the staff of Wellmont Hospice House. In lieu of flowers, the family requested that memorial contributions be made to Wellmont Hospice House, 1 Medical Park Blvd., Bristol, TN 37620; First Christian Church, 200 East Mountcastle Drive, Johnson City, TN 37601; or Milligan College, P.O. Box 500, Milligan College, TN 37682. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family and viewed at www.tetrickfuneralhome.com or faxed to (423) 610-7177.
Arrangements for the Simerly family are in the care of Tetrick Funeral & Cremation Services, 3001 Peoples Street, Johnson City, Tenn., (423) 610-7171.