S.C. Maynard

Shirley Carlyn Maynard, age 87, of Crossville, Tennessee, passed away on March 2, 2023.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Shirley and Oma Maynard; brothers, Kenneth Maynard and Joe Maynard; sisters, Theda Brown and Elizabeth O’Connor; and great grandsons, Liam Wood and Theodore Bohannon.

He is survived by his wife, Betty Maynard, sister Ruby Jones (Jerry), children, Misty Overman (Jerry), Cindy Fox (L.A.), John Maynard (Christine) and Rebecca Wood (Jerry), nine grandchildren, Candace, Grant, Jordan, Chase, Austen, Julia, Dakota, Jenna, and Ben, fourteen grandchildren Elijah, Shiloh, Evelyn, Noah, Maverick, Zachary, Lakelynn, Anna Beth, Isaiah, Ronan, Mia, Henry, Landry, and Flynn, and a host of nieces and nephews.

Born on November 13th, 1935, Shirley Carlyn (S.C.) Maynard was one of six children to his parents. He grew up in Baxter,Tennessee located in the foothills of the Appalachians. While still a teenager, he left his home in Baxter to join his father working in Detroit. In 1957, along with his brother Ken, S.C. joined the United States Marine Corps. Though he never saw combat, he spent a great deal of time in the Mediterranean, the Arctic Circle, and in and around Cuba. In the same manner as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Washington, D.C, the U.S. Military decided to have a sea burial of selected unknown soldiers. He was chosen to hold the U.S. Marine Corps flag during the ceremony.

During this period, he began corresponding with and courting the love of his life, Betty Karney. He often said, “I moved to Texas and found the best woman that ever lived.” After a long distance romance, they married in Dallas on June 2nd, 1960. They added four children to their family in the span of six years. In 1975, he and Betty moved with their children to Tennessee wanting to be near Baxter and finding jobs in Crossville.

Inspired by his mom and his wife, S.C. pursued higher education receiving his Bachelor's at North Texas State University, then both his Master’s, and finally his Ed. S. at Tennessee Technological University. In school, he was a bus driver, cafeteria worker, janitor, teacher, elementary principal, high school assistant principal and at one point, he even coached the cheerleading team. He ended his career as the truancy officer for Cumberland County. Education was so important to him as he encouraged countless individuals and most of all his children. His son went on to become a registered nurse and his three daughters became educators.

Always an outspoken champion for exercising your right to vote, S.C. served on the Cumberland County Election Commission for five years.

He was an outdoorsman and enjoyed developing and improving his beloved 150 acre farm. While he loved his land, he loved his family and God more so. He was a member of the church of Christ worshiping at the Stephens Gap and Crossville congregations.

Always an encourager, S.C. was a positive light. His sweet sense of humor and his charismatic way of telling stories and sharing memories will be missed, but he will continue to live on in the hearts of so many.

Funeral Service will be held at Bilbrey Funeral Home on Monday, March 6, 2023, at 1:00 PM. Burial will follow at Green Acres Memory Gardens. Family will receive friends on Sunday, March 5, 2023, from 5:00 to 8:00 PM.