WILLIAM ASKEY

08/01/1948 - 10/17/2022

William Lee Askey passed away in Houston, Texas on October 17, 2022 after a 14 month battle with lymphoma. He was born on August 1, 1948 in Baytown, Texas to parents Warren and Anabel Askey. He enjoyed happy days in Baytown where he became an All Star pitcher and made many lifelong friends. He was recruited and coached in Track and Field by Coach Beverly Rockhold in high school. Bill was a sprinter/ quarter miler and earned

All American honors. He anchored the Texas State

High School Championship 440 yard relay team, and graduated from Robert E. Lee High School in 1966.

Bill was recruited by Coach Augie Erfurth to attend

Rice University on a track scholarship, and was coached by Bobby May. He graduated from Rice University in 1970 with a Bachelor of Commerce Degree. In 1969 and 1970, he was a three time All American running on the 440 yard and mile relay teams at the NCAA National Championships and was later inducted into the Rice Hall of Fame. Bill remained close friends with many of his teammates for the rest of his life.

In 1970 he married the love of his life, who was his college sweetheart and Spanish tutor, Ellen Anthony, and they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2020. Bill joined the 36th Airborne Brigade of the Texas Army

National Guard Reserves, and was a paratrooper and the Company Clerk from 1970 to 1976. Bill had a long and successful career in Houston banking. He was a Trust Officer and specialized in Trust and Estate Administration and for the last 23 years of his career was with Texas Commerce Bank which eventually became JPMorgan Chase Bank. It was in banking that Bill met two of his close friends, Carl Schumacher and his wife Martha, and Greg Davis. Bill especially loved working with his clients and mentoring to younger associates; he was a boss, mentor, and friend to many.

Bill was a dedicated Christian, active in Wildwood United Methodist Church in Magnolia, Texas, in many small groups, such as the Navigators’ class and men’s group Caleb’s Calvary, and leadership roles. Bill helped lead the annual Family Mission Trip to Velarde, New Mexico, providing building repairs and a VBS program with his “brothers and sisters” there. The Santa Fe area was always a special place with fond memories of family vacations and extended “family” mission trips. Ellen persuaded Bill to help her with skits and puppet shows for the trips and at Wildwood Christian Academy. “Mr. Bill” serving as the sheepdog puppet he named “Salty Dog”, was always a fan favorite.

Bill discovered a lot of outdoors activities after he married Ellen, such as camping, canoe trips, hiking in the mountains, fishing, and trail rides where he was the “camp boss”. Bill and Ellen hosted family reunions in Estes Park, Colorado and loved traveling to national parks, and many cruises in the Caribbean and to Alaska. Bill was a life long sports participant and fan of the Astros and Texans. He became an avid photographer, beginning with instructions from his father-in-law Jim Anthony and ending with many, many scrapbooks of photos. Bill was a devoted caregiver to many, but what he enjoyed most was sharing vacations, holidays, and every day gatherings with his family and friends.

Bill is survived by his loving wife Ellen, adored children Susan M. Gutierrez and husband Ron Gutierrez, his son Phillip Askey and wife Debbie. As GrandDad he was very proud and close to all his grandchildren: Abbigail, Bailey, Carlee, and Cameron Gutierrez, and Morgan and Harrison Askey. He loved dearly his sisters, Ann Alexander and husband Mike, Jean Thacker, and Liz Flint and husband Bryan, and brother Bob Askey. He held dear his sisters-in law, Libby Lehman and husband Lester, Cathy Arnold, and Sarah Davis, and numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents and brother Pat Askey, who passed away in March of this year.

There will be a Celebration of Life service celebrating Bill’s life at Wildwood United Methodist Church, 8911 FM 1488, Magnolia, TX 77354 on Sunday, October 30th at 2pm, with a reception following in Hayley Hall at the church, with a separate, private interment of Bill’s ashes in Houston. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Wildwood United Methodist Church in Magnolia, Texas or the charity of your choice.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.nationalcremation.com/location/houston for the Askey family.