Gracey Childers Appleton Jr., 89, of Clarksville, passed away Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022, at his home.
Appleton was born June 22, 1933, in Clarksville, to the late Gracey Childers Appleton Sr. and Mary Alma Jones. He was also preceded in death by his brothers, Buddy and Glen Appleton; sister, Irma Nell Davis; daughter, Sharon Renee Kelly; and grandson, Garrett Curtis.
He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Martha Love Appleton. They married when they were teenagers and she was only 14 years old. Shortly after, they moved from Tennessee all the way to California. He’s also survived by a son, Steve (Debbie) Appleton; daughter, Terri Love Walker; brothers, Bobby (Linda) Appleton and Charlie Appleton; grandchildren, Deanne Clair, David Clair, Stephenie George, Mandy (John) Croft, Jennifer (Jeremy) Hatfield, Melody Welker, Stacey (Brian) Carlton and Jana (Tyler) Slagle.
Appleton served in the US Navy and was a Korean War veteran. He served on the USS Iowa, also called “the Battleship of Presidents.” He was a motorcycle police officer with the Clarksville Police Department and a reserve deputy with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department. The judge had to give him his own court day for his tickets because he wrote so many. He also worked in civil service at Fort Campbell in the motor pool department as well as working as a motorcycle technician for Custom Cycle Works in Nashville with his brother, Bobby Appleton, and he retired from Appleton Harley Davidson. He was a member of the First Church of Nazarene and attended 2nd Mile Church.
Appleton will be honored in Clarksville on Veterans Day, Friday, Nov. 11, starting at 11 a.m. with a ride from Appleton Harley Davidson to the Chapel of Neal-Tarpley-Parchman Funeral Home. The bike ride will then leave for the burial at Resthaven Memorial Gardens with honorary pallbearers William “Rocky” Grimes, Larry Lyle, Trey Keese, Danny Suiter, Richard Coberly, Tia Suiter and Billy Walker. They will then return to the dealership for a community service of fellowship with friends and family.
Visitation will take place from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 10, and from 11 a.m. until the hour of service Friday, Nov. 11, at the funeral home.
Arrangements are entrusted to Neal Tarpley Parchman Funeral Home, Clarksville, TN 37040; 931-645-6488. Online condolences and livestreaming of the service may be made and viewed at www.nealtarpleyparchman.com.