David McQueen Obituary

David Mark McQueen, age 55, scored the biggest touchdown of his life to Heaven on Sunday, February 11, 2024, at his home surrounded by his loving family as he went to be with his Savior after a courageous and valiant two plus year battle with cancer.

David was the son of the late Kenneth Lee and Bobbie Jean Winters McQueen. He medically retired from the City of Elizabethton Parks and Recreation Department in 2022 after serving over 30 years in a career field he loved.

He was a people person and never saw a stranger. He had a lifelong love of all sports. David loved #11 and Sunday was his favorite day. Growing up in the Blackbottom Community, at the age of 7, he missed 37 days of school pedaling his bicycle to Joe O' Brien Field to spend time with team members and players of the Elizabethton Twins, the affiliate baseball farm team of the Minnesota Twins.

He served as a bat boy for several seasons for the Twins and later became the team's clubhouse manager for a few decades. The players referred to him as "Big Dave" and he coined the phrase "you can't spell Twins without a win." He loved the team and was blessed to be a part of the ten league championships. If you attended a Twins game or any sporting event, you knew David was in the house.

David enjoyed the Elizabethton Cyclones football and baseball teams, and he loved the Betsy Band. He was so proud that all his daughters won a Tennessee Division II Betsy Band State Championship. A Minnesota Vikings fan from the age of five, David also enjoyed the world of NASCAR, especially racers, Cale Yarborough and Dale Earnhardt. He was blessed with a visit to the Minnesota Metrodome and Target Field in 2010, where he enjoyed time with previous Elizabethton Twins players and attended a Vikings game.

David was honored by the city in June, 2022 with the naming of Blackbottom's David McQueen Riverside Park, which sits adjacent to Joe O'Brien Field. David was blessed to be chosen as a 2024 honorary inductee for the Carter County Sports Hall of Fame.

David was of the Pentecostal faith and attended Roan Street Freewill Baptist Church. He didn't let cancer defeat him. He believed "Be the Warrior God called you to be" 1 John 5:4, as he completed 49 immunotherapy cancer treatments. His philosophy was "he was a winner and he was going home to his savior," where he could continually "have praises upon my lips" and of course, "shout."

He leaves behind "my women"-his wife of 33 years, Shelby Tolley-McQueen; three daughters, Alexandria and Logan Craft, Katarina and David Finney, and Izabella McQueen, all of Elizabethton. He was excited for the birth of his first grandchild, baby boy Finney, this summer. Also, Serafina, his faithful goldendoodle, Socks, his grand-cat and grand-dogs, Zazzy and Sulley.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his in-laws, Cecil and Georgia Tolley; an infant daughter, Victoria Faith and two brothers, Billy Harrell and Edward Gilbert.

He is survived by his brothers, Danny and wife Annie McQueen, Randy and wife Nona McQueen, sister, Betty Harrell Arrowood; brother, Larry Gilbert; brother-in-law, Cecil Wayne Tolley; sisters-in-law, Betty and Jobe Tolley, Kitty Tolley and companion Marshall Simerly along with a host of nieces, nephews and extended family and friends.

A graveside service for David will be conducted at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, February 14, 2024 in the Tolley-Cornett Cemetery, in the Fairview Community of Hampton, TN off Whittemore Road with Pastor Donnie Harris officiating. A Eulogy will be given by Roger "Woody" Lyons. Pallbearers are Roger "Woody" Lyons, Terry King, Garrett Johnson, Robert Potter, Pete Taylor and Cecil Wayne Tolley. Honorary pallbearers are his many treatment, sports and church friends, City of Elizabethton and Parks and Recreation Department coworkers, Roger Norris, Lynn Kyker and his Black Bottom family. Those who wish to attend the graveside service are asked to meet at Hathaway-Percy Funeral Home at 9:45 AM to go in procession to the cemetery.

The family is planning a Celebration of Life during the annual Blackbottom River Rat Reunion in early Summer, which will be held at David McQueen Riverside Park in Elizabethton. This will be announced at a later date.

The family wishes to thank their many prayer warriors, friends, churches, the Joy Class of Boones Creek Christian Church and all those who mailed him special cards and wishes or brought him treats during his illness. A special thank you to Shelly Smith, Dr. Dharmel Patel, Dr. Jeff Taylor, FNP-C and the entire team with Tennessee Cancer Specialists, Dr. Kristen Ciombor and the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, all nurses, staff, patients as well as Centerwell Home Health, Amerita Speciality Infusion Services, Beverly, Kim, Jerry and the staff of the Radiology Department at Bristol Regional Medical Center and Gentiva Hospice Care.

Online Condolences may be shared with the family and viewed on our website at www.hathawaypercy.com. Hathaway-Percy Funeral and Cremation Services is honored to serve the McQueen family. Office: 423-543-5544