Cletus Ash

SEDGEWICKVILLE, Mo. -- Cletus "Bill" Wilburn Ash, 71, of Sedgewickville died Thursday, Jan. 25, 2007, at St. Joseph Hospital in Kirkwood, Mo.

He was born June. 13, 1935, at Braggadocio, Mo., son of George Lee and Rellie Fowler Ash. He and Edna Marie Blair were married July 4, 1986.

Ash worked as an operation manager for EG&G Vac Tec in St. Louis and was a member of the Plainview Congregational Methodist Church. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Survivors include his wife; three sons, Derrick Ash of St. Louis, David Ash of Sedgewickville, Danny Ash of Columbia, Ill.; three stepsons, Gary Buck of Charleston, Mo., Nick Buck of Fort Wayne, Ind., Jeff Buck of Huntsville, Ala.; two daughters, ReDonna Gosnell of O'Fallon, Mo., Diana Matye of St. Charles, Mo.; two stepdaughters, Colleen Mixson of Columbia, S.C., and Sherri Buck of St. Peters, Mo.; three brothers, Alvie Ash of Puxico, Mo., Franklin Ash of Lilbourn, Mo., Melvin Ash of Dyersburg, Tenn.; four sisters, Opal Johnson and Lou Hueppauff, both of Caruthersville, Mo., Frieda Heite of St. Louis, Shirley Groves of Minnesota; 16 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by two brothers and two sisters.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Liley Funeral Home in Patton.

Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Monday at the funeral home. The Rev. Ray Webb will officiate, with burial in Plainview Cemetery near Marble Hill, Mo.