David “Dave” E. Amerson, 84, formerly of Lincoln, IL, passed away Sunday, June 16, at Huntsville Hospital in Huntsville, Alabama.

Funeral and graveside services were held on Sunday, June 23, in Athens, AL. A private family memorial gathering will be held on Friday, June 28 at Jefferson Street Christian Church in Lincoln, IL.

Dave was born May 4, 1940, in Alabama, to Ronald Gray and Mary Eunice Barnett Amerson, who preceded him in death. He and his first wife, Dolly, moved north to Indianapolis right after graduating high school. They have one daughter, Carolina (Carlton) Amerson; a granddaughter, Cortnee Nicole (Joey) Womack; and a grandson, Christian David (Hailey) Tuttle; and great-grandchildren: Elliott, Dominic, and Gabrielle Womack, and Clara and Kinsey Tuttle.

On November 1, 1981, Dave married Reba J. Ridge Smith, and they were happily married for over forty years. Reba preceded Dave in death on March 15, 2022. Together, Dave and Reba lived in Bloomington, Indiana, and Lincoln, Illinois, as well as winters in McAllen, Texas. Surviving are Reba’s three children who honor Dave as their father: Sally (Steve) Smiley, Lithia, FL; Patrick (Terri) Smith, Rushville; and Craig J. (Brenda) Smith, Chillicothe, IL.

Grandchildren with Reba who referred to Dave as “Grandpa Dave” include: Justin (Jackie) Smiley, Sarah (Anthony) Harrison, Craig C. (Sarah) Smith, Tyler (Brittany) Smith, Peter S. Smith, Johntel (Megan) Smith, Latisha Burton, Alesha (Joseph) Smith, Charmion (Jordan) Ford, Jordan Smith, Casey (Cameron) Smith, Tyson (Emily) Smith, Tanner (Alexa) Smith, Josiah Smith, Mikayla Smithand Devin (Brienna) Smith.

Great-grandchildren with Reba include: Laila, Hazel, Eden, and Jemma Smiley; Liam Harrison; Ellie, Jackand Cooper Smith; Kylee Fowle, Owen King, Kaiden Burton, Pierce Mclintic, Romi Greene, Chloe and Ares Ford; Andre Smith, Oliver and Hannah Smith; Dane, Ellowyn, and Emery Smith and Adalee Smith.

Dave was also preceded in death by great-grandson Aaron Harrison.

For his career, Dave was a truck driver who delivered liquid oxygen to hospitals across the state of Indiana. One of Dave’s hobbies was playing his guitars with his brother, James, and with friends. He was in a band for many years “picking and singing and grinning.” After marrying Reba, Dave became an avid golfer, and together, they enjoyed playing new golf courses whenever they traveled. Together, Dave and Reba traveled to all 50 states, as well as making a trip to the Holy Land of Israel. He was a follower of Jesus Christ, so seeing and walking where Jesus walked on this earth mattered much to Dave.

Dave was a member of Smithville Christian Church and Sherwoods Oaks Christian Church in Bloomington and Jefferson Street Christian Church in Lincoln, IL and an adopted member of several other church families where his children served in vocational ministries.

Dave enjoyed riding his 3-wheel adult tricycle. His signature scent was Old Spice. And it would be impossible to calculate the number of ballgames, baseball, basketball, football, soccer, wrestling matches, cross-country and track meets, choral and band concerts, golf tournaments, horse shows, gymnastics events, church musicals, etc. that Grandpa Dave attended in support of his children and grandchildren.

Paid obituary.