William Clay Crawley, Jr.

William Clay Crawley, Jr. age 93, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Monday, February 5, 2024, at Serenity Springs Nursing Home in Ocean Springs, MS. 

Bill was born on November 15, 1930, in the Mount Carmel Community of Decatur County, TN, to the late William Clay and Lillie Mayme (Phillips) Crawley. He joined the US Air Force as a teenager and became an Air Traffic Controller, and later an instructor at Cody Hall on Keesler Air Force Base, in Biloxi, MS. Bill retired in 1971 after 22 years of service, as a Master Sargeant. After retirement he started Bill Crawley Realty in Biloxi, MS, which he had for 20 years. 

He married Audrey (James) Crawley on January 20, 1956. They were married for 26 years and had 3 daughters Sonja, Billie and Tomi. 

He married Ruth (Strickland) Crawley in 1982. They were married for 25 years and he had 3 step- children Jimmy, Donna and Denise. 

Bill was always very proud of his service in the Air Force and loved telling his stories about his several deployments to Okinawa, and Tokyo, Japan. 

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his first wife, Audrey James Crawley; his second wife, Ruth Strickland Crawley; his brothers, Alton Fred Crawley, Tom Frank Crawley, Robert Nathan Crawley, and Lowell Denver Crawley; and his step-daughter, Donna Nichols. 

His surviving siblings are Buford Crawley, Susie Stout, and Geneva Crowell all of Decaturville, TN. He is survived by his daughters, Sonja Barnette, Billie Langson (Sidney), and Tomi Cassibry (Dennis); step-children, James C. Strickland, Jr, and Denise Joyce (Joe); and grandchildren, Bethany Anthony, Kyle Barnette, Jr., Kristopher Barnette (Brooke), Tammany Spence (Trey), Murriah Barnette, Amber Belcher (Corey), Jennifer Robertson (Scott), William Heyl V (Johanah), Tara Heyl, TJ Cassibry (Tiffany), Leann Le (Gilbert), James C. Strickland III, Tyler Nichols, Jonathan Joyce, Cynthia Joyce, and Catherine Moses. 

Bill is also survived by 26 great-grandchildren, Emma, Cooper, Audrey Ella, Harper, Kaiden, Kolby, Audrey Lee, Kristopher Jr, Pfeiffer, Decklan, Avelynn, Judson, Jay De, Aubrey, William VI, Katelynn, Sofi, J. Rhett, Bayley, Huntley, Kallie, Braydon, Thi, Thanh, Jaice, Claire, and Charlotte. 

Bill's family would like to send love and thanks to his caregivers at Serenity Springs, in Ocean Springs, MS, where he spent 9 years, Deborah Finklea, Natasha Barkley, Ruby Johnson, Stella Siggal, Ida Shoemaker, and John Davis. 

Interment will be at Biloxi National Cemetery on Veterans Avenue, Biloxi, MS. with the time and date to be announced when determined. There will also be a small family service in Tennessee in May to be announced to family members and friends at a later date.

Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of William Clay Crawley, Jr.