Doyle Clevus Summerford

Smithville – Doyle Clevus Summerford, 84, affectionately known as "Slick" and "Kojak," passed away on Tuesday, April 12, 2016, at Baptist Memorial Hospital, Columbus. Born on August 24, 1931, in James Creek Community of Itawamba County, he was a son of Earnie Clevus and Reba Irene Harris Summerford.

Doyle attended Smithville Schools and graduated from Tremont High School Class of 1951. Honorably serving in the US Air Force during the Korean War, he was an Aircraft Mechanic and Electrician. On November 5, 1955, he married the love of his life, Hilda Faye Alverson, and they were blessed with three children. Fond of Southern Gospel music, Doyle and his family sang in their younger days; their group was The Summerford Family. A member of Smithville Baptist Church, Doyle loved the Lord and sang in the choir until 2013. As a loving father, his children’s favorite memory was their dad waking them for breakfast on Sunday mornings with “Rise and shine, it’s Sunday school time!”

In his younger years, Doyle worked in the Family Pottery Shop and enjoyed collecting those pieces from around the area. A master mechanic, he had worked for McCutcheon-Banks Furniture, Johns Manville (Illinois), B. J. Ford, Scribner Equipment Company, Walker Manufacturing, and Gilmore Puckett Lumber Company. In 2003, Doyle retired from Tecumseh Products. He was a member of the DAV and was an avid Ole Miss Rebel fan of all sports.

Very caring and giving, he would lend a helping hand to anyone. Doyle was a great gardener, and he enjoyed giving vegetables away. A loving grandfather, he was passionate about his family, especially his grandchildren, great-grandchildren and all of their accomplishments. He enjoyed genealogy; beekeeping; quail and squirrel hunting; catfishing on Bull Mountain. A jack-of-all-trades, he met everyone with a great smile. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

Survivors include his daughter, Phyllis Gail Prestridge (Gary), Amory; sons, Ronald Doyle Summerford (LaDonna) and Tony Lewis Summerford (Mitzi), of Smithville; grandchildren, Dee Bowling (Kim), Nicci Howell (Tristan), Jordan Summerford (Laura), Russ Bowling (Valerie), Steven Summerford (Shelley), Leah Ivey (Matthew), Todd Summerford (Corey), Wade Summerford (Ashley); great-grandchildren, Abby Roye; Cameron, Hayes, and Garrett Howell; Drew, Eli, and Ryan Brown; Isabelle and Collin Summerford; Madelyn Ivey; Grant Summerford; Will and Sadie Summerford; Thatcher Doyle Bowling; brother, Eulon Summerford (Alma Fay), Smithville; sister-in-law, Marilyn Summerford, Smithville; several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents and wife of 58 years, Hilda Faye Summerford; he was preceded in death by 3 brothers, Robert, Ellie Wayne, and Dewayne BurLee Summerford.

His Funeral Service will be held at 2 PM, Thursday, April 14, 2016, at Smithville Baptist Church with Bro. Wes White and Bro. Todd Summerford officiating. Burial with Military Honors will follow in Young Memorial Garden. Pallbearers will be his grandsons, Dee and Russ Bowling; Jordan, Steven, Todd, and Wade Summerford; Tristan Howell; Matthew Ivey. Honorary pallbearers will be Tremont High School Class of 1951; W. H. Gregory; Edwin Hathcock; Arlon Cox.

Visitation will be from 5 – 8 PM, Wednesday, at Smithville Baptist Church.

Memorials may be given to Smithville Baptist Church, PO Box 52, Smithville, MS 38870.

Memories and condolences may be shared with his family at EEPickleFuneralHome.com.