William Clifford Ashby, Jr
November 12, 1950 ~ April 20, 2013
Born in:
Millwood, KY
Resided in:
Lawrenceville, GA
William "Buzz" Ashby, age 62 of Lawrenceville passed away on Saturday April 20, 2013. He was born in Millwood, KY on November 12, 1950 and spent his early years in Valley Station, KY. He was a star athlete, first at Valley High School and then at Eastern Kentucky University where he received a full baseball scholarship. He was an all conference player and still holds baseball records at EKU today. He spent his career in the oil business, first with Gulf Oil, then BP and finally with CITGO Petroleum. He was very respected by his colleagues and loved what he did. He passed along much of his oil business knowledge to all he came in contact with. He is survived by his loving wife of 42 years Debby Sheets Ashby as well as the other two loves of his life, beloved daughter Shawn L Ashby and the light of his life, granddaughter Skylar M Ashby, age 8.
Other survivors include his mother, Velma Ashby, and brother Johnny Mayfield both of Louisville, KY as well as other nieces, nephews, and in-laws. He was cremated. A celebration of his life will take place on May 11th, 2013 at 2:00 pm at The Wages & Sons Chapel in Lawrenceville, GA. 1031 Lawrenceville Hwy 30046.
Debbie:
I am so sorry to learn of Bill’s death. He was a great guy, I can’t believe that I will not be able to call him up. He knew the answer to everything and if he didn’t he would find the answer for you. He was one of the few people I could trust to get me answer that our customers could understand. You and your family were the light of his life and I am sure he will be watching over you from above.
Debbie, Shawn, and Skylar,
Bill was a great friend, a trusted associate, and a mentor to me for more than 10 years. As was referred to, I owe much of what I know about the oil business to Bill. Beyond that, he shared with me how to treat people and that is what will carry with me from him – as wise as he was, he always connected with the people. He was a true professional.
Bill often spoke with great pride about his family and what each of you meant to him and it ALWAYS prompted a beaming smile. May he forever reside within our hearts.
Debby & Family,
Jim really had a lot of love & respect for Bill. I am sure that they are in heaven together, looking down on us.
Please send me an e-mail if you need me for anything.
Prayers & Love to you all.
Kind Regards, Juanita
Dear Family ,
I am with Home Oil Co. and have had the pleasure of knowing Mr. Bill for the last 15 years . He has been an inspiration and mentor to our family and business . We will miss him greatly .
Our thoughts and prayers are with your family . God Bless !!
Tim Shirley
I am so sorry for your loss. Dwayne enjoyed working with Bill and considered him a friend. Dwayne always carried a coin in his pocket with Proverbs 3:5,6, which has given me strength to face each day without him in my life. I am praying for you and the entire family.
Man, did Bill and I have some times together. He was one of the best and a close friend of mine. I am going to miss my buddy.
Kay and I loved Bill and Debby and still do.
My condolences to the family.
Bill was a great person to work with. He will be missed by all of us at Citgo Petroleum.
Family,
I am with West Oil Company, Inc. I have worked with Bill for many years. He was a great guy and we will miss him. He was always my go to person to call in our industry. I am very sorry for your loss.
Leonard Robinson
Debbie and Family,
Susan and I want to tell you how sorry we are about Bill’s passing. He not only was a fantastic business colleague, but a wonderful friend as well. We wish that GOD’S mercy, grace, and Love surround you all during this time. He will be truly missed by so many.
Debbie, Shawn and Skylar,
Bill and I have worn out 5 Toyota cars over the past several years since I have known him and you get to know a person very well after spending that much time with them. He was the brother that I never had, a man that I trusted with my life and obviously my best friend. There was not a week passed that Bill and I didn’t talk about work, life, things in general, solving the worlds political problems, putting our grandchildren through college, fishing, you name it, we solved it! As you said the other day, Bill will be missed by hundreds if not thousands across North America, but mostly by you. I miss him every day and just can’t imagine how you and your family feel at this time of sorrow.
Lynn and I will always keep you and your family in our thoughts and prayers because you are family.
Love,
Ronnie
Debbie, My heart goes out to you during this difficult time. Like many people, I will miss him very much. While I got to know Bill through Baxley Oil, our friendship extended far beyond work topics. Many times, we’d talk for hours about nearly everything including oil to computers to hunting. I always enjoyed when we’d have a chance to spend time with you and Bill at various events. I will pray for you and your family as you go through many life adjustments. Joe
Debbie, I am so sorry to hear of your loss. While I only met Bill one time I enjoyed conversating with him. I truely feel your sorrow. My prayers go out to you and your family to help you get through these times. I enjoyed reading and hearing about Bill and your life together. If you need any help with anything don’t hesitate to call. Sincerly Mike The Fedex Guy
We have thought and thought and the bottom line is there is not the perfect thing to say….truth is there are no words. Debby, Shawn and Skylar…you have been given such a gift. To have had this most loving, caring, thoughtful, selfless, generous man in your lives. It is nothing you do not know but just know others have observed. Buzz has touched and continues to touch so many hearts and lives. We are truly better for having known him…Donna and Dave
Debbie,
you and your family have our deepest condolences in the sudden loss of Bill.
Bill was a great friend and coworker.
He was also a humanist, he could touch people after only a few words. They would open up and speak freely.
Just one:”can I ask you a question” resolved many situations
We will all miss him.
Buzz was an amazing person, so kind and so real. Marty and I had the honor only a few times to spend time and talk with him but it didn’t take long to feel like we had known him for a long time. We wish we had gotten to know him more. He truly loved people and was also loved by many. I read this somewhere and you may have heard it but it gave me comfort when my Dad passed away so suddenly, “Death is like a ship that has sailed away into the distance. On the horizon, the ship seems to disappear, but really, it is not gone. It is still sailing, just out of our sight.What we cannot see is that there are others awaiting it on a different shore, shouting ” Here he comes! Buzz is not gone but just out of sight. Remember God’s promise, you will see him again. May the many happy times with him bring you peace, joy and comfort. God Bless you Debby, Shawn and Skylar! Many prayers have gone up for you.
Isaiah 41:10 & 13.
I am so sorry to hear about Buzzy’s passing. He was always so special ans kind to me. I remember him in grade school and high school. The world will not be the same without him in it. My thoughts and prayers are with you.