Obituary: William Augustus Ayres, Sr.

William Augustus Ayres, Sr., 77, died Friday, November 14, 2014 in Athens, Texas. Rosary will be at Carroll-Lehr Funeral Home at 6 p.m. Monday November 17, 2014 followed by visitation until 7:30 pm. The funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. November 18, 2014 in St. Edward’s Catholic Church with Father Pancras presiding. Burial will follow in Athens Cemetery. William was a 4th degree member of the Knights of Columbus. The Knights will be Honor Guard.

William was born to John Smith and Maggie Mae Robbins Ayres in Frankston, Texas May 14, 1937. He attended his early school years in Frankston. After the tragic death of his parents in 1949, William and his two brothers and sister lived with their grandfather, John Ira Robbins in Athens.

William graduated from Athens High School class of 1955. He went to Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. Within days of graduating from Trinity University, William was drafted into the United States Army. Upon completion of basic training, he was shipped to Frankfurt, Germany. He was days away from being discharged when the Berlin Wall was built. He often remarked about that being a very tense time. He was afraid that he would not be released but have to stay in the Army. Fortunately, he was released on his discharge date and returned to Athens. He immediately began to look for meaningful work but none was readily available in Athens. He was accepted for work at Sears, Roebuck and Company in Houston.

In 1964, William met the love of his life, Jane Baird in Houston. They were married February 20, 1965 in St. Christopher’s Catholic Church in Houston, Texas. They were just three months short of a fifty-year marriage. A daughter and two sons were born to this union, Mary Margaret, William Jr, and Samuel Matthew Ayres.

William continued working for Sears for almost twenty years, attaining the position of regional commercial credit manager but he always longed to return to Athens. He and Jane were able to do that in 1982. He bought the Ace Hardware Store in Malakoff running it until he sold it in the early 1990’s. He permanently retired in about 2000 after his health began to decline.

William leaves behind his wife, Jane Ayres, son William Ayres Jr, daughter Mary Margaret Ayres DeVaull and husband George. His son, Matt Ayres, preceded him in death. He had three grandsons, George IV, Michael, and David DeVaull. He also has a sister, Sally Jane Ayres of Pearland, Texas and brother Joe Robbins Ayres and wife Cissy of Richardson, Texas. His brothers John Smith Ayres, Jr. and Robert Chopin Ayres preceded him in death.