William Murray Quinn

William Murray “Bill” Quinn, a life-long Memphian, died Sunday September 14, 2014, surrounded by his beloved family. He is survived by his dear “bride” of almost 62 years, Helen Seay Quinn; three children, James Wilson Quinn of Memphis, Susan Helen Quinn Deese of Carrollton, GA, and Virginia Seay Quinn “Ginger” Mathis of Tupelo, MS; daughter-in-law Marilyn Morgan Quinn; son-in-laws Larry H. Deese, and Ken L. Mathis. Anyone who knew Bill Quinn was aware of the amazing love he held for his six grandchildren and three great- grandchildren. Grandy, as he was called by many, loved William Morgan Quinn “Billy the Tiger” and his wife, Emily, of Memphis, Taylor Laster Ash “TayTay” and his wife Amber, of Carrollton, GA, Kristina Lauren Mathis Blythe “the Duchess” and her husband Timothy Blythe, of Ladue, MO, Matthew Ross Quinn “My Ross” of Memphis, Paige Alexander Mathis “Paigey” of Mountainbrook, AL, and Alexander Martin Quinn “Xander” of Knoxville, great- granddaughter, Madeline Seay Quinn, and great-grandsons Quinn Henry Ash, and William Morgan Quinn, Jr. Bill is also survived by many nieces, nephews and grand nieces and nephews dear to him who fondly called him Uncle Billy or Uncle Billy Bee Bum. Bill was born in Memphis August 27, 1929 to Mildred Alexander Quinn and Jim Quinn. Jim Quinn was a highly decorated World War I hero, having received the American Service Cross, two branches of the Croix de Guerre, and the Purple Heart. Bill's casket will be draped with the flag that draped his father’s casket and was handed to him at the funeral held in 1935. He was also preceded in death by his sister Patricia Quinn Alexander, brother-in-law Bill Alexander, and in-laws J. I. and Hilma Seay. Bill graduated from Central High School and attended Memphis State University. He served in the Army before launching General Pipe and Supply Company, a large regional industrial piping supply business on President's Island in Memphis. He was active in the American Supply Association, a national association of wholesale manufacturer-distributors in the industrial and residential plumbing, heating, cooling and piping business with thousands of members. He served on the Board for years and as President. In his many roles with ASA, he was often called upon to testify before Congress about matters impacting business. Bill served on the Board of Directors of the Boys Club of Memphis, the American Cancer Society, the University Club, the Memphis 100 Club and the Chickasaw Council of the Boy Scouts. He was a member of the Memphis Rotary Club, a founding member of the Phoenix Club of Memphis, and a member of the President's Council of Rhodes College. He was an Elder of Idlewild Presbyterian Church. Bill was an avid tennis player. He won the Memphis City Singles Championship twice and the Memphis City Doubles Championships twice. He was also a member of the International Tennis League. A family graveside service will be held by Memphis Funeral Home with burial at Memorial Park on Thursday, September 18. A celebration of his life will be held that morning at Idlewild Presbyterian Church at 10:30 a.m. followed by a reception for friends and family at the church. The family requests memorials, in lieu of flowers, to any of the charities that Bill Quinn supported such as Idlewild Church, the Boy Scouts, the

American Cancer Society, MIFA or the Church Health Center. Online condol- ences may be expressed through www.memphisfuneralhome.net Memphis Funeral Home 5599 Poplar Avenue (901)725-0100