William “Bill” E. Gass, Jr., 86, of Clarksville, TN, passed away on Saturday, July 16, 2016, at Richland Place in Nashville, TN.
Bill was born on April 10, 1930, in St. Louis, MO to the late William E. Gass, Sr. and Ida Marie Mink Gass. He was also preceded in death by his first wife, Betsye Glover Gass; his second wife, Joy Gold Goodlett Shelton Gass; daughter-in-law, Martha Ruth “Muffy” Gass; and step-son, William Scott Shelton.
Celebration of Life Service will be held on Friday, July 22, 2016, at 3:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Clarksville with Dr. John David Laida and Dr. Felts Dent officiating. Burial will be at Resthaven Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be held on Thursday, July 21, 2016, from 3:00-7:00 p.m. with a Masonic Service to follow at the Neal-Tarpley-Parchman Funeral Home, and Friday, July 22, 2016, from 1:00 p.m. until the hour of service, at the church.
Bill moved to Springfield, TN to manage the Ben Franklin Store in 1952, after graduating from the University of Tennessee. While at UT, he joined the Beta Sigma chapter of Sigma Chi. While in Springfield, he married Betsye S. Glover and had their son, John Andrew Gass in 1956. He moved back to Clarksville in 1962, where he opened a State Farm Insurance office. Their second son, William David Gass, was born in 1963. He retired from State Farm after 38 years on July 31, 2000. Bill was past president of the Lion’s Club and was Lion of the Year in 1965. He was an Ordained Deacon of First Baptist Church in 1985, past Master of Western Star with Lodge No. 9 in Springfield, TN, member of Queen City Lodge #761, a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason, and past member of Royal Order of Jesters with Nashville Court #92.
Bill is survived by two sons, Andy Gass and David Gass and Melissa Gass; step-daughter, Elizabeth (Lou) Durnya; step-daughter-in-law, Elise Shelton; five grandchildren, Katie Gass, Caleb Gass, Ashley Gass, Bailey Gass, and Emily Gass; four step-grandchildren, Sarah (Drew) Stevens, Cameron (Nicole) Durnya, Will Shelton, and Adam Shelton; and four step great-grandchildren, Elizabeth Joy Stevens, Ann Tandy Stevens, Brayden Louis Durnya, Lily Anne Durnya.
Pallbearers will be Bill Lanier, Dr. Bill Howard, Will Shelton, Cameron Durnya, Adam Shelton, Drew Stevens, and Caleb Gass.
The family would like to give a special thank you to the staff at Fieldstone Place and a very special thank you to Debra Wilkins for the exceptional care given to Mr. Gass.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the First Baptist Church, 435 Madison Street, Clarksville, TN 37040 or Al Menah Temple, P.O. Box 78545, Nashville, TN 37207.
Arrangements entrusted to Neal-Tarpley-Parchman Funeral Home, 1510 Madison Street, Clarksville, TN 37040.