James William "Bill" Ansley III

 

 

Bill was born on December 7, 1960 in Tallahassee, FL to James William, Jr. and Celia Gotshall Ansley.  He moved to North Carolina as a child.  He graduated from Brevard High School in 1983 where he played football and other sports.  He graduated from Western Carolina University with a degree in Business Management.   Bill worked in various businesses, including Allison’s, Farm Bureau, and Stanberry Insurance, but his true passion was coaching young people.  He coached football for Jackson County Youth League, and Smoky Mountain Middle and High Schools.

In addition to his parents, Bill is survived by his wife of 38 years, Vickie Stephens Ansley, his children Lori  and Brandon Farmer, and Jonathan and Jennifer Ansley.  He is also survived by the delights of his life, his six grandchildren; Jake, Stella, and Gray Farmer and Ella, Eli, and Eva Ansley.  He is also survived by his mother-in-law, Bobbie Nell Stephens, nieces Claire Bowen (Jason), Savannah Cook (Andy) and Brittney Stephens, and nephews Adam Ansley (Dian), Zachary Stephens, Dakotah Stephens, and McKinley Stephens.  Other family members who will cherish his memory are his aunts Grace Ansley, Susan Lindsey (Bill), Sally Gotshall Johnson, Lindsay Gotshall and a host of cousins.  Brothers-in-law Terry Stephens and Davey Stephens (Kim) survive as well.  After marrying Vickie, Bill was not an in-law, he was a member of the Stephens family.  He was thought of as a brother, nephew, cousin and a dear friend.  Bill had a host of friends, including his high school buddies, the “Squirrels”, the men he coached with, the people he met while working, his church family and most importantly the young people he mentored over the years.

Bill was preceded in death by his beloved brother, Eric Ansley; his father-in-law, Dave Stephens and his grandparents, James, Sr. and Frances Ansley and Charles and Ruth Gotshall; his uncles, Karl Gotshall and Roger Johnson.

As a member of East Sylva Baptist Church, he sang in the choir, served on the finance committee and served as their representative to the Tuckasegee Baptist Association.  Along with Pastor Shane Roughton, he was instrumental in starting the Upward Sports program in Jackson County that has provided hundreds of children in Jackson County the opportunity to play basketball or cheer and hear the word of the Lord.  Also, along with Reverend Roughton, he helped start Refuge Church in Dillsboro.  Bill was happy when he was involved in sports, even serving on the “chain gang” for Western Carolina football, coaching sports, and working on programs that served children. In recent years, his greatest joys have come from his grandchildren, watching them play sports, dance, participate in band concerts, or any activity they wanted to do.  He was their biggest cheerleader!  He will be missed by his family who loved him so much.

The pallbearers will be Jonathan Ansley, Brandon Farmer, Jake Farmer, Dakotah Stephens, Matt Maney, Andrew Maney and Dustin Ramsey .

The family will receive friends on Sunday, June 25, 1:00 pm-3:00 pm at Appalachian Funeral Home.  The funeral service will follow at 3:00 pm at Appalachian with Reverends Shane Roughton and Victor Hough officiating.   Speakers will include Dylan Brooks, Brandon Farmer, and Bill’s grandchildren.  The graveside service will be held immediately afterward at Cullowhee Baptist Church Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Upward Sports at Refuge Church, 200 Marsh Lily Drive Sylva, NC 28723.