William Ray Beesley

William Ray Beesley, 96, of Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, formerly of Mt. Carmel, Illinois, passed away March 1, 2023, at Bethel Manor in Evansville, Indiana.

He was born August 8, 1926, in Orio, Illinois to Raymond Charles and Henrietta H. (Risley) Beesley. In 1944 he graduated from Allendale High School in Allendale, Illinois. He married Patricia Ann Brothers June 24, 1951, at the First Christian Church Disciples of Christ in Mt. Carmel, Illinois. They were married for 70 years.

William was a well-respected businessman. He worked as a Retail Merchant for Index Notion Company for 35 years. He then managed Ben Franklin. Followed by working for Altadonna IGA until his retirement. He was an original member of the WAVE Board, a member of the Kiwanis Club, a lifetime member of the Mt. Carmel Elks Lodge 715, and a member of the Chamber of Commerce. He was an avid bowler, AVID fan of the St. Louis Cardinals, Mt. Carmel Aces Football, and WVC Warriors Men and Women’s Basketball. He loved playing pool with his merchant buddies, doing yard work and planting flowers. He truly enjoyed putting up his Christmas Tree lights starting in October. He loved word search puzzles and his family truly believes he would have made the Guinness Book of World Records had he just kept all his books. He was the World’s Best Teaser and had the most infectious smile that will truly be missed. He and his wife enjoyed square dancing in their younger years. They also enjoyed traveling and making scrapbooks of places they visited.

Left to cherish William’s memory are his daughters; Linda (Stuart) Oberg, of Evansville, Indiana, and Lisa (Phil) Tucker, of Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, grandchildren: Nathan (Shanna) Groeninger, Brandon (Libby) Tucker, Bryce (Abbey) Tucker, Brett (Patrick) Penner, great-grandchildren: Addison Scheessele, Leo Scheessele, Layla Grace Groeninger, Cameron Keller, and Baby to be Tucker.

Visitation will be held Tuesday, March 7, 2023, from 12:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m., Funeral Service to follow at 2:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Short-Cunningham Funeral Home. Burial to follow at Highland Memorial Cemetery in Mt. Carmel, Illinois.

Memorials can be made to the First Christian Church Disciples of Christ, 803 N Market St., Mt. Carmel, Illinois 62863, or envelopes will be available at the service.

Condolences may be sent to www.short-cunninghamfh.com

Short-Cunningham Funeral Home is honored to serve William’s family.

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