Thomas Franklin Settlemyre
September 24, 1942 – August 1, 2022
Thomas Franklin Settlemyre, 79, passed away August 1, 2022, at his home in Arvada, Colorado.
Tom lived a purpose driven life. He was an avid reader and book collector, and enjoyed spending time outdoors hiking, fishing and going on road trips with his family. He loved coconut cream pie, Elvis records, and had a hearty, joyful laugh and singing voice.
Tom was born in Marion, North Carolina, to Guy and Emma Settlemyre. He was the youngest of three children, having an older sister, Eleanor, and brother, Guy Jr. Tom grew up in Drexel, North Carolina, and lived on a street bearing the family name, Settlemyre Road.
Tom was called to minister to others and make disciples. He attended Anderson University to study religion and ministry. Tom completed a Master of Ministry at Anderson School of Theology and was an ordained Church of God minister. Anderson University is also where he met Janice Settlemyre. They married in 1964 and cherished 56 years together.
Tom had a heart for missions. For over 20 years he regularly organized work camp trips to Guatemala, Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago to build churches and schools.
While in Louisiana, he met and spoke with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., at a minister’s breakfast. This made a lasting impression on Tom’s life and throughout his ministry.
Tom retired after 50 years of ministry in The Church of God. Tom and Janice served many churches on their journey together: Northwestern Church of God, Detroit, MI; Stone Lake Church of God, Middlebury, IN; South Meridian Church of God, Anderson, IN; 4th Avenue Church of God, Lake Charles, LA; First Church of God, Vincennes, IN; Mt. Scott Church of God, Portland, OR; West Court Street Church of God, Flint, MI; and in retirement attended Parkgate Community Church, Pasadena, TX. Each stop on their journey created lifelong bonds, a legacy of faith, and a life well lived.
Everyone who knew Tom, knew he was a passionate and competitive game player. Competitive might be an understatement. If you ever had the pleasure of stepping on the softball field with him or sitting at a table on game night playing Rook with friends and family, you’ll know what I mean. In addition to playing sports, Tom loved watching them. His favorite teams were typically the ones playing, with the exception of college basketball. He was always rooting for the University of North Carolina.
In retirement, Tom and Janice moved to League City, Texas, to care for Janice’s parents, then headed to Denver, Colorado, to be closer to family. Tom wouldn’t let Parkinson’s get in the way during his time at The Gardens at St. Elizabeth. He not only continued to expand his collection of friends, but also worked to make the community around him more connected.
Tom is survived by his daughter Karla Ferguson and her husband, Jim, of Denver, Colorado. His son Kevin Settlemyre, his wife Suzanna, and their daughter, Lucia, of Arlington, Massachusetts. He was preceded by his wife, Janice Settlemyre, in 2021.
The family will hold a memorial service in Drexel, North Carolina, at a later date.