 For two and a half decades, Daryl Compton served as the chief of the Shelby Valley Volunteer Fire Department. This morning at the age of 62, Compton passed away after a battle with cancer. Daryl Compton died at Pikeville Medical Center shortly before 8 a.m. this morning. He'd been battling cancer that eventually spread throughout his body and was taken back to PMC Saturday evening where he'd spent much of the past few months. After his death, he was escorted from PMC to Lucas & Son Funeral Home by the Pikeville Fire Department and by members of the Shelby Valley Volunteer Fire Department. Compton was named Fire Chief in 1991 and at the time of his death, he was a 36-year veteran firefighter. He also worked as an EMT for Trans-Star Ambulance Service. Now he's being remembered as a dedicated servant to his department and his community. He was always there no matter what you was doing. Any fireman, any neighbor he had, if they was out doing something, they're always there volunteering his time. He's always taking care of everybody else instead of himself. Those who knew Compton said he lived and breathed the fire service. Even as Compton's health deteriorated, he always had the good of the fire department in mind. I had to realize that he had that disease. He still came to the fire department several times and say here that he wasn't able to be here. He came out, sat with us and he told us to carry on the tradition that he started and he has grown this fire department so much. It's unreal what he's done for this community. The American flag is at half-mast at the Shelby Valley Volunteer Fire Department in honor of its chief who, while slender in body, leaves behind big boots to fill. Shelby Valley Fire Chief Darrell Compton will be laid to rest later this week with full firefighter honors. Reporting from Robinson Creek for EKB News, I'm Chris Anderson.