March 02--Chad Settlemyre had a deep appreciation and genuine love for the fire service. It was an important part of his life.
His fellow firefighters from Sawmills Fire and Rescue will honor Settlemyre's memory and devotion to the department and his community by transporting his body to its final resting place as part of his funeral service.
Settlemyre died suddenly Monday morning. First responders from Sawmills Fire/Rescue responded to a medical call for an unconscious subject at 3:10 a.m. and discovered the patient in need of assistance was Settlemyre, their 25-year-old colleague and father of a 2-year-old little boy. First responders and paramedics from Caldwell County EMS attempted to assist Settlemyre at the scene. He was transported to Frye Regional Medical Center in Hickory where he was pronounced dead.
Settlemyre's death came just hours after he helped with a groundbreaking celebration for a new addition at Sawmills Fire Department on Sunday afternoon.
The exact cause of death has not been determined. An autopsy is being performed, but Sawmills Fire Chief Brian Church said definitive results may not be available for several weeks.
Whatever the cause, family members, friends and colleagues have been dealing with Settlemyre's unexpected death.
"It's been tough on our guys, it really has," Church said. "That was one of our own we had to work on. As young as he was, he had so much enthusiasm and charisma. It takes a toll on you when you have this kind of loss, but we're dealing with it."
Church said Settlemyre's family -- parents Richie and Lori, and brother Chris - still are searching for answers.
"They're having a difficult time as anybody who has lost a child would," Church said. "It was a shocking event for them, definitely a life-changing event.
"All of us are trying to accept it, and we all want to understand it. But sometimes, that understanding is just not there."
Settlemyre's parents requested that Sawmills firefighters transport their son's body to the grave site, a request department members will honor Saturday when the funeral procession leaves Fellowship Baptist Church and travels to the cemetery at Center Grove Baptist Church. It will be Settlemyre's final duty call.
The family will receive friends today from 6-8 p.m. at Fellowship Baptist Church, located at 2682 Fairwood Dr., Hudson. The funeral will be Saturday at 2 p.m., also at Fellowship. Settlemyre's casket then will be placed on a Sawmills fire engine and transported to the cemetery at Center Grove, located at 3176 Deal Mill Road, Hudson.
Church said the route would take the procession along Fairwood Road before turning right on to Mount Herman Road. From there, it will cross U.S. 321 and turn left on U.S. 321-A in Hudson, following the road into Sawmills before making a right on Cajah's Mountain Road. The procession turns left on Helena Street and then left on Sawmills School Road before making another left on to U.S. 321-A, passing by the Sawmills Fire and Rescue station. As it passes the fire station, Sawmills' tones will be set off, and trucks will sound their sirens, signaling Settlemyre's final call. The procession then will turn right on to Mission Road, cross U.S. 321 and continue on Lower Cedar Valley Road and Deal Mill Road to reach the cemetery.
Church said firefighters from Sawmills probably will be going through a debriefing in the coming weeks to allow them to further cope with the emotions associated with Settlemyre's sudden passing.
"We were on such an emotional high with the celebration of our ground-breaking," Church said. "About 12 hours later, we had a sad note with his death. It's been tough."
Copyright 2012 - News-Topic, Lenoir, N.C.
