George Merton Derryberry

George M. Derryberry, 85, of Signal Mountain, Tennessee, passed away on October 9,2026.

George was born in Sheffield, AL, on April 5, 1941, to Kathryne Martin Derryberry and O.M. Derryberry. He grew up in Hamilton County and lived most of his life on Signal Mountain. He graduated from City High School in 1959. He then started college at the University of Tennessee in the fall of 1959, where he was in the ROTC Program. George enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and was honorably discharged with the rank of Major.

George went to UT Law School, where he graduated with honors, and joined the law firm of Miller & Martin in Chattanooga. George practiced law in Chattanooga and the surrounding area., Upon leaving Miller & Martin, where he was a prominent attorney for many years, he opened his own law practice, retiring in 2017.

While at Miller & Martin in his spare time, he was a front man in the local band TUMBLEWEED and played at Riverbend festival on June 7, 2003. George was an avid scuba diver, skier, kayaker, bicyclist, horseback rider and very fluent in Spanish. In his later years, he authored and published the book "PATH OF VALOR" in 2013.

George was preceded in death by his parents, O.M. and Kathryne Derryberry, brother, Gene Derryberry.

He is survived by his wife, Sharon Derryberry; daughters, Cassie Batty, Kathryne Barrow, and Aubrey Durnin; son, Jason Courtney; grandkids, Paul Allan Courtney, Will Batty, Emily Batty, Olivia Barrow, Caleb Durnin and Chloe Durnin; sister, Kay McKinnonnd and several nephews.

There will be a private graveside service at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758516, Topeka, KS 66675-8516.

To share your memories of George, please visit www.hamiltonfhofchattanooga.com

Arrangements are entrusted to Hamilton Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 4506 Hixson Pike, Hixson, TN 37343, (423) 531-3975.