Eddie Martin Shirley

Published 4:21 pm Tuesday, January 16, 2018

Eddie Martin Shirley, 85, of Elizabethton, went home to be with his Lord on Tuesday, January 16, 2018, at the Community Living Center, Mountain Home, Tenn.
A native of Avery County, N.C., he was a son of the late George and Bertha Blalock Shirley.
Mr. Shirley had lived most of his life in Elizabethton. He served in the United States Navy during the Korean Conflict. He served on the USS Wisconsin. He was selected in 2013 to represent Carter County in the Honor Flight Program.
Mr. Shirley was an over the road truck driver for 37 years. He was a member and Deacon of Calvary Baptist Church and the Men’s 1 Sunday School Class. He was also a member of Dashiell Masonic Lodge #238 and the American Legion Post 49.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Rachael Whaley.
Survivors include his wife of 65 years, Betty Lou Hicks Shirley; four children, Debra Sanders and husband David, Johnson City, Eddie Martin Shirley II and wife Jane, Knoxville, Keith Shirley and wife Barbara, Kingsport, and Diane Whaley and husband Mike, Gray; six grandchildren, Jamie Singer, Aaron McGhee, Andrea Hamilton, John Shirley, Josh Lane and Andrew Whaley; seven great-grandchildren, Caroline, Ellie, Max, Kaelynn, Carsen, Henry and Lena; two sisters, Georgia McClain and Betty Jean Shirley, both of Newland, N.C.; and his special caregiver, Patty Moody.
Funeral services for Eddie Martin Shirley will be conducted at 7 p.m. Thursday, January 18, at Memorial Funeral Chapel with Pastor Jacob Guinn and Pastor Steve Pate officiating. Graveside services and interment will be at 11 a.m. Friday, January 19, at Happy Valley Memorial Park. Active pallbearers will be grandsons. Honorary pallbearers will be his Calvary Baptist Church Family. The family would like to express a special “Thank You” to the doctors and staff of the Community Living Center, Mountain Home. Military Honors will be provided by the Carter County Honor Guard. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Family and friends will assemble at the funeral home at 10:20 a.m. Friday to go to the cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family at our website at www.memorialfcelizabethton.com.
Memorial Funeral Chapel, 212 N. Main Street, Elizabethton, is serving the Shirley family.