William Allan Wilson, 81, owner of Clay's Seed, Inc., passed away Thursday, February 13, 2014 at the Nicholas County Hospital.

A native of Garrard County, Kentucky, he was born May 17, 1932, son of the late Frank & Wilma Elizabeth Henry Wilson; and the husband of 46 years to his high school sweetheart, the late Shirley Katherine Tudor Wilson.

He was a member of the Carlisle Presbyterian Church, serving as deacon and elder for many years.

He graduated from Paint Lick High School, Paint Lick, Kentucky, in 1950 and from Berea College in 1954, earning his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture.

After training at Parris Island, South Carolina and serving in the USMC Reserves, he began his career with the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension service, serving Wayne and Harlan Counties. Following this, he managed the 276 acre Ohio State Agriculture Experimental Station in Ripley, Ohio. After being recruited by Mr. Glenn Clay to serve as the Production Manager for Clay's Seed, Inc., Bill came to Carlisle, where he eventually took ownership of Clay's Seed, Inc., serving as President, General Manager, Director and Tobacco Seedsman. Through Clay's Seed, Inc. he enjoyed meeting and working with his summer pollination workers and took pride in offering many local youths their first jobs.

Tobacco was Bill's life, having worked in the fields from early childhood with his beloved father and continuing through his adulthood as a professional seedsman, perfecting the tobacco that he so loved. He was known by many names: Bill, W.A., Mr. Wilson, Boss Man, Dad and Granddaddy. He greatly loved his family, friends, long-time employees and beloved animals. In addition to his family, some of his greatest joys in life were attending church, spending time at Garrett's and Tracks Restaurants in Carlisle, telling stories to family and friends, and learning the history of his native Kentucky. Bill is a Kentucky Colonel and an Ohio Tobacco Museum Hall of Fame Inductee (Ripley, Ohio). He took great pride in his heritage, ancestry and family history.

Mr. Wilson is survived by his wife, Kay Coffey Wilson, of Todd, North Carolina; a son and daughter-in-law, William David & Sharon Alexander Wilson; a daughter, Sue Katherine Wilson Dotson; a daughter-in-law, Elizabeth Davis Moreland, all of Carlisle; a son and daughter-in-law, Hugh Norris & Lynne Tudor Wilson, of Paint Lick; six cherished grandchildren: Lydia Patrice Wilson Kohler (Dale), James Conn Wilson (Megan), Cara Elizabeth Wilson Clark (Brian), Nicholas Lee Dotson, Dr. William Alexander Wilson and Chad Wilson Dotson (Erica); two-step children: John Edwin Wilson and Mary Elizabeth Wilson-Patton; eight step-grandchildren: James Edwin, Virginia Kay and Hannah Marie Wilson-Patton; John Edwin, Kyra Leigh and Bryn Elena Wilson; Jennifer Speak and Leah Henderson; five precious great-grandchildren: Cameron & Collier Clark, Audrey & Miles Kohler and Annabelle Wilson; three step-great grandchildren: Andrew Metzler, Dakota & Duncan Thornton; a sister, Imogene Wert, of Sevierville, Tennessee; many nieces and nephews; special cousins: Ruth Wilson McElveen and Bob Henry; and special friends and employees, Billy Gilvin and Hattie Jones.

In addition to his parents and his wife, Shirley, he was also preceded in death by his brother, Franklin Wilson; a sister, Elizabeth Rose Wilson; special cousins, the Honorable Gilbert Milton Wilson & Jean Burnam Wilson Hamilton, and numerous aunts and uncles for whom he had such love and respect.

Services will be 2:30 P.M. Monday February 17, 2014 at Ramsey Funeral Home in Lancaster, Kentucky by Dr. Art DeYoung of the Carlisle Presbyterian Church with burial to follow in the Lancaster Cemetery.

Visitation will be after 4:00 P.M. Sunday at Mathers-Gaunce Funeral Home and from 1:00 P.M. until the time of service at Ramsey Funeral Home, Lancaster.

Carlisle Presbyterian Church
P.O. Box 181, Carlisle KY 40311