William Greer

Joseph “William” Greer died June 26, 2020 at his home in Apex after a long illness. William was born on September 18, 1946 in Boone, North Carolina. He was the eldest son of Joe Hagaman Greer and Julie Day Greer, and brother to Ira “Ray” Greer who all preceded him in death. He is survived by his devoted wife Nellie Merritt Greer, his loving son Kyle (Megan) and his young grandson Will who is his namesake.

William was a man of faith who valued service and tradition. When Winn Dixie came to Cary in the early sixties, William went to work there while he was in school. His impeccable work ethic impressed Harry Stephenson, founder of the fledgling (at the time) Cary Oil Company. William went to work at Cary Oil immediately upon graduating from Cary High School in 1966 as one of the company’s first employees and, for decades, proudly drove his short truck to any customer that called. Often, he would make deliveries on holidays or through snow and ice to ensure his customers’ homes were warm, treating them as he would his own family. His quiet, strong, determined, and principled leadership helped define the character of Cary Oil from its earliest days. He knew and served thousands of customers as he delivered products to homes and businesses around the community. As the company’s business model evolved, William’s short truck job ended, and he transitioned to various office responsibilities. Upon his retirement in 2008, he stayed on for several years in a part-time role. William worked at Cary Oil for more than fifty years, establishing a legacy of hard work and humility that still carries the company today.

On December 4, 1976 William married his bride Nellie and in 1979 their son Kyle was born. A tight-knit family of three, William’s highest priority was his role as husband and father. He and Nellie were a package deal and enjoyed spending time together, especially with their church family. William’s faith was his cornerstone, and he humbly served as the greeter at Hope Community Church for several years, sharing his warm smile with everyone who passed through its doors. Quite possibly NASCAR’s biggest fan, William relished trips to the racetrack with various friends and family members, but especially with his cousin Jesse Day.

The family would like to thank their Cary Oil family, friends, extended family, neighbors and Liberty Hospice for their loving care and support.

A small private graveside service will be held on Tuesday, June 30, 2020 at Apex Cemetery. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hope Community Church, a place William loved and where he faithfully served. Hope Community Church, Attn: Accounting, 821 Buck Jones Rd. Raleigh, NC 27606.

Philippians 2:3-4: Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.