Rick Simerly

Rick Simerly

 

rick-simerly-obituary10-3-14Rick Simerly

October 3, 2014

Date of Service: October 7, 2014

Interment Location: Garden of Gethsemane

 

Mr. Rick Simerly, 56, of Johnson City, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, October 3, 2014 at Sycamore Shoals Hospital. He was born in Carter County and was preceded in death by his grandparents, Maude and Matney Simerly and Martha and Cecil Samples and by several aunts and uncles.

Rick was a graduate of Elizabethton High School and East Tennessee State University and was the Drum Major of the marching bands at both Elizabethton and ETSU. He loved music and played the piano and organ for Borderview Christian Church, where he was a member, and for other events and occasions in the community and beyond. He also toured for five years with Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians. He loved to play card games with his family, especially Shanghai. He was the past manager of Markmans Jewelers in Knoxville and Rone Regency Jewelers in Chattanooga.

Survivors include his mother Laura Mills and her husband, Wilburn; his father, Ralph Simerly, and his wife, Mary Ellen, all of Elizabethton; a sister, Cheryl Godfrey and her husband, Bryan, Elizabethton; two aunts, Dorothy Chapman and her husband, Dale, Johnson City; and Marie Brown, Elizabethton. Several cousins also survive.

A service to honor the life of Rick will be conducted on Monday, October 6, 2014 at 7:00 PM in the Chapel of Peace, Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton with Rev. Ken Hauser officiating. The family will receive friends in the funeral home chapel from 5:00 – 7:00 PM on Monday prior to the service.

The graveside service and interment will be conducted on Tuesday, October 7, 2014 at 11:00 AM in Happy Valley Memorial Park. Active pallbearers will be Bryan Godfrey, Bob Davis, Dale Chapman, Raymond Morton, Scott Reynolds and Ray Don Markland. Those wishing to attend are asked to meet at the funeral home at 10:15 AM to go in procession to the cemetery.

Those who prefer memorials in lieu of flowers may make donations to American Heart Association, 3101 Brown’s Mill Road, Johnson City, TN 37604.

Happy Valley Memorial Park