William Jeff Carlisle

On June 6th, 1939, Bill Carlisle was born in Oakdale, Louisiana to Pollard “Happy” and Vertis Carlisle. Bill grew up in Dequincy, La., graduating high school in 1957. In fact, 1957 was a busy year for Bill Carlisle. Bill not only graduated high school, but married the love of his life, Murphy Ray Alston, beginning a marriage bond that lasted over sixty years. He also started his telecommunication career at Southwestern States in 1957. Bill had a telecommunication career that spanned fifty years, from climbing poles as a installer repairman in south Louisiana to managing technical support for digital switching and fiber optics across the U.S. Bill spent thirty-five years at GTE Southwest (Verizon), bringing him from south Louisiana to San Angelo in 1970. After retiring from GTE in 1992, he spent another twenty years at Eastern Independent Telephone (EIT) before retiring from telecommunications in 2007 In May of 1968, Bill was awarded the Morris Felton Lacroix Award from General Telephone of the Southwest for saving a man’s life. Bill was returning home from a swimming trip when he came upon a head-on collision. He reacted quickly to stop the massive bleeding using make-shift tourniquets from the wet swimming towels. Throughout his life, Bill loved teaching, supporting and helping others perhaps the most. He excelled at a wide range of hobbies and interests. Besides his expertise in telecommunications and computers, he was an excellent archer, marksman, gunsmith, blacksmith, hunter, fisherman and knife builder, building custom arrows, arrow heads, gun stocks and throwing axes. He participated in black powder mountain men rendezvous competitions, teaching people about the history of black powder, survival and throwing axes. Bill was a musician, pen and ink artist, custom engraver, gardener, welder, off road and touring motorcycle enthusiast. Bill loved playing Cajun music on his accordions, as well as playing the guitar in different bands, dating back to high school. Bill was honorably discharged as a Staff Sergeant from the Louisiana National Guard after eight years of service. He was a strong supporter and lifetime member of the National Rifle Association (NRA), American Motorcycle Association (AMA), and Texas State Rifle Association (TSRA). After seventy eight years of working, supporting and helping others, despite a number of health issues, Bill finally rested comfortably after a difficult struggle with lung issues, taking his last breath on July 5th, 2017 in San Angelo, Texas. Bill is survived by his wife Murphy Carlisle; his son Michael and his wife Inelda Carlisle; his daughter Kathy Wills and her husband Bobby Wills; grandsons Bryan and his wife Leyra Carlisle, Scotty, Grant Wills and his wife Emily, Jonathan Goana; granddaughters, Gayla Carlisle, Christiana Gaona, Heather Hodges and her husband Billy Hodges, Gaby Mitchell and her husband Wesley Mitchell. He is also survived by fifteen great grandchildren, and a great great grandson. Bill is preceded in death by his parents, P. “Happy” and Vertis Carlisle, his brothers, Malcom “Mac” and Carlton Carlisle, and great granddaughter Amelia. Because Bill hoped people would not gather to grieve over his going home, but recall all the great times he shared with many, he requested no funeral services or memorial services be held. He does encourage notes and cards of support mailed to Murphy Carlisle, San Angelo, Texas 76905. Family and friends are encouraged to sign an online guestbook at www.johnsons-funeralhome.com