Hervy "Junie" R. Secrest Jr.

Hervy R Secrest Jr., 94, passed away peacefully Friday (April 14, 2023) at Altercare North in Newark, OH.

He was born April 26, 1928, in Pleasant City, the son of the late Hervy and Zola Secrest.

Hervy was known to his closest friends as either ‘Junie’, ‘June Bug,’ or ‘Sec'.

Junie worked most of his life for Central Ohio Coal Company.  He owned the local grocery store in Pleasant City as well as a laundromat.

Junie was a simple man who was not into extravagant things. He was not the traditional father who passed out great words of wisdom. He was just a simple man who lived his entire life in Pleasant City.  But what he did do was led by example in a strong quiet way. He was always there when you needed him.  Junie was everything you wanted in a husband, father and a friend.

He was so well thought of and respected by the townspeople, the local communities got together and celebrated his 92nd birthday with a long parade on a cold dreary day but he smiled and waved happily as they passed by his home.

He really didn’t have any hobbies but loved to ‘tinker’ in the garage or the basement where you could find him sometimes secretly puffing on his pipe and watching old Westerns on a small TV. Where he really got his biggest enjoyment was working around the house with remodeling projects or helping his kids or friends with their needs.

In his late 40s Junie got an ‘itch.’  He always had a fascination with airplanes and decided he wanted to become a pilot and have his own plane.  There was one problem…. He had a wooden leg as a result of a mining accident in his early 20s.  Once he got his approval it was full throttle ahead. He got his license and his plane and spent many days flying around the area.

This feat was so amazing that the Daily Jeffersonian wrote a feature story about the ‘Lone Eagle.’ He never bemoaned his accident. Instead, he went out and learned to water ski and ice skate and live his life.

After his loving wife of 61 years the former Mary Lou Sprout passed away, he spent most of his time “up on the hill” hanging out with Mr. Julius Capers and friends. The Secrest Family would like to acknowledge Julius and his friends for their kind loving support of their father and for being there when he needed them the most.

We would also like to thank cousins Raymond, Brian, Robin and Stephanie for all their help in his later years.

He is survived by his wife of 11 years, the former Betty Larrick, a friend of Mary’s, who came into his life at the right time to provide love, kindness and support. The two of them spent some delightful afternoons riding around in their sports car with the top down.

Betty was “a gift” and the family can’t thank her enough for coming into their lives and giving their father the will to keep on living.

In addition to Betty, he is survived by two sons, Mick (Janet) Hilton Head, SC and Mark (Joyce) Buckeye Lake, OH;  a daughter, Lynette (Scott) Park City, UT; four grandchildren, Cameron Secrest, Markie (Andrew) Murphy, Hunter (Molly) Spriggs, and Logan Spriggs; and four great grandchildren Elliot, Finn, and Silas Murphy, and Abby Spriggs.

Visitation will be held Thursday (April 20, 2023) from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Black-Epperson Funeral Home, Byesville, where funeral services will follow at 12 p.m. with Evan. Mark Beros officiating.

Burial will be at Pleasant City Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial contributions be made in Junie’s name to Absolute Hospice, 7171 Keck Park Cir NW, North Canton OH 44720.

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