Billy Ashworth

CAIRO, Ill. -- Billy S. Ashworth, 77, of Cairo, died at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2016, at Daystar Nursing and Rehab in Cairo.

Billy was born May 11, 1939, in Mound City, Illinois, the son of Mark and Ruth (Haws) Ashworth. He lived most of his life in Cairo.

He married Ruth Carolyn Johnson on Feb. 27, 1960, at Tigert Memorial Methodist Church in Cairo. They shared 56 wonderful years together.

He worked for Wonder Market for 16 years and later went to work on the river, where he became a pilot. He worked for Sioux City of New Orleans and later Ohio River Company and Midland Inc.

He retired from Ingram on June 1, 2003. After retirement, he enjoyed fishing and hunting with his family and friends.

Billy leaves behind his wife, Ruth Carolyn Ashworth of Cairo; daughter, Amy Ann Conaway; granddaughter, Claire Elise Conaway, and her father, Deron Conaway of Charleston, Missouri; brother, Ronnie (Marilyn) Ashworth of East Cape Girardeau, Illinois; sister-in-law, Lela Ashworth; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by an infant son, Derrin Ashworth; mother and father, Ruth Holder and Mark Ashworth; three brothers, Mark Ashworth, Henry Hanna Ashworth and Calvin Ashworth; and two sisters, Ruth Mae Fulcher and Patsy Steele.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday and from 8 to 10 a.m. Friday at Crain Funeral Home in Cairo.

Procession will leave the funeral home at 10 a.m. for Green Lawn Memorial Gardens, with graveside services officiated by the Rev. Buddy Walls.

To view the full obituary or to leave an online condolence for the family, visit crainsonline.com.