Mr. William Ashby Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Funeral services for Mr. William Ashby, 80, of Henderson, will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 20, 2019, at First Baptist Church with Dr. David Higgs and Harold Sadler officiating. Interment will follow at Rusk County Memorial Gardens under the direction of Crawford-A. Crim Funeral Home. The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. on Tuesday, February 19, at the funeral home. Mr. Ashby passed from this life on February 17, 2019, at Hospice of East Texas Homeplace in Tyler. He was born April 29, 1938, in Rusk County. William graduated from Henderson High School in 1957 and then served his country in the United States Army. He later went to work for the Henderson Daily News and served as the Advertising Manager for 36 years. William was a member of First Baptist Church and was dedicated to serving his community and Rusk County as a part of numerous organizations including the Rusk County Historical Commission where he served as President and accomplished so much for the Depot Museum. He also belonged to the Kiwanis Club of which he was a member for 50 years. In 1971, he was honored as the John R. Alford Young Man of the Year and in 2007 was again honored by the Chamber of Commerce with the Lifetime Achievement Award. The following year in 2008, William was honored as a Distinguished Alumni by the HISD Alumni Association. He was preceded in death by his parents, Jim R. and Bonnie Bell (Milam) Ashby. Survivors include his loving wife of 39 years, Sandra Velvin Ashby of Henderson; son, Stacy D. Ashby and wife Donna of Sachse; daughters, Debbie Ashby Payne and husband Benny of Henderson, and Renee Ross Perry and husband Mark of Henderson; grandchildren, Rachel and Laura Ashby of Frisco, and Hunter and Hannah Perry of Henderson; and great-grandchildren, Halie Payne and Harley Smith of Henderson. Pallbearers will be Glenn Shippey, Rex Ashby, Benny Payne, Mark Perry, Hunter Perry, and Dusty Flanagan. Honorary pallbearers will be Noble Welch, and members of the Rusk County Historical Commission, Kiwanis Club, and HISD Class of '57. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Rusk County Historical Commission at 514 N. High St., Henderson, TX 75652. Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.crawfordacrim.com.

Mr. William Ashby

April 29, 1938 - February 17, 2019