William Joseph Pettis Sr.

After his father passed away in 1936, his family moved to Jacksonville, Florida until 1946 when he enrolled in St. Andrew's-Sewanee School in Sewanee, Tennessee. He graduated high school in 1951, then went on to attend Clemson University.

Bill lived and worked in Atlanta, New York City, Chicago, Kansas City, and St. Louis, before settling in Houston, Texas. He worked as a manufacture's consultant and as a "self-described peddler" for Brown Shoe Company. He also worked for Miller's Department Store, Wohl Shoes, Macy's Department Store, Harzfeld's Department Store, Dillard's Department Store, and Bonwit Teller Department Store. After retiring, he and his wife opened their own furniture consignment store, "Second Edition" in Sugarland, Texas.

Bill was a fierce football fan and loved rooting for his favorite teams, the Clemson Tigers & Houston Texans. He could be found at every Texans home game cheering loudly and offering coaching advice from the stands. He was affectionately referred to as the “Mayor of Section 129” by his family and seat neighbors. Bill never met a stranger and loved to play Texas Hold ‘Em, often scooping up all the money at family poker games.

Bill was preceded in death by his wife, Meredith Jo Pettis; mother, Pauline Adams Pettis; father, Odell Pettis, and sister, Jane.

William is survived by his sons and his daughters-in-law, Bill Jr. and Maria Pettis, Jeff and Judy Pettis, Craig and M'Lissa Dilley; his daughters Kimberly Johnson and Erin Dilley; his grandchildren Stephen and Wendi Merritt, Heather and Jonathan Ping, Tiffany Pettis, William Pettis III “Trey”, Michael Pettis, Adam Dilley, Maxon Dilley, Reagan Dilley, Quinn Wilson, Teague Wilson; his five great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.