Rev. Allen Norman Simerly

Published 1:30 pm Friday, December 20, 2024

I fought a good fight, I finished my course, I have kept the faith.

Rev. Allen Norman Simerly, 80, Hampton, went home to be with his Lord on Wednesday,  December 18, 2024, at his residence. He was born October 7, 1944 in Roan Mountain, to the late Earl Simerly Jr. and Edith Frances Arnett Simerly.

Rev. Simerly had served in the Army-National Guard for eight years. He had served several churches in the area during his 45 years of ministry. He was an honorary member of the Valley Forge House of Prayer where he was serving as pastor.

Rev. Simerly was a Master Cabinet Maker and loved fishing and hunting. He was the previous owner of Simerly Wood Products.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers, Bradley, Danny and Leroy Simerly.

Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Judy Stout Simerly; his children, Rebecca Self and husband Jeremy, Priscilla Payne and husband Tony and Rev. Timothy Allen Simerly and wife Donna; three granddaughters, Donna Marie and husband Garrison Barnes, Kayla Wishon and fiancé Aaron Somers and Keshia Ferguson and husband Don; two grandsons, Travis Blevins and Robert Pierce; four great-grandchildren, Grayson Barnes, Elias Wishon, Ellie Wishon and Kaelynn Barnes; four sisters, Judy Guinn, Melva Doris King, Janie Guinn and Jill Stansberry;   one brother, Teddy Simerly; several nieces and nephews; and two aunts, Ruby Sloope and Billie Birchfield.

A Celebration of Life Service will be conducted at 7 p.m. Sunday, December 22, at Memorial Funeral Chapel with the Rev. John Stevens and the Rev. Jamie Simerly officiating. A graveside service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday, December 23, in the John Whitehead Cemetery. Active pallbearers, who are requested to assemble at the funeral home at 1:15 p.m. Monday, will be Travis Blevins, Robert Pierce, Toby Guinn, Randy Guinn, David Simerly, John Simerly and Shane Kinley. Honorary pallbearers will be Scottie Roark, Chris Pierce, Junior Blevins, Todd Whitehead and members of the Valley Forge House of Prayer. The family would like to express a special thank you to the staff of Gentiva Hospice, Grace Wade, Penny Whitehead, Stephanie, Kathleen, Dee and Davlenn Deloney. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Valley Forge House of Prayer, 121 House of Prayer Road, Elizabethton, TN 37643. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 6 to 7 p.m. Sunday, prior to the service. Family and friends will assemble at the funeral home at 1:15 p.m. Monday to go in procession to the cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family at our website, www.memorialfcelizabethton.com.

Memorial Funeral Chapel is serving the Simerly family.