Surrounded by his family, William Taylor Priest, 89, of Lumberton passed away peacefully at home Wednesday, November 14, 2012.

Born in Bryan on August 14, 1923, Bill grew up in both, Lott and Marlin.  After high school, he served in the CCC building state parks in Arizona. Afterwards he worked in an airplane factory in Dallas. When war broke out he enlisted in the Merchant Marines, achieving the rank of Ensign and proudly serving in both the Atlantic and Pacific Theaters.

While preparing to deploy from St. Petersburg, Florida he met Carolyn, the love of his life.  After the war ended they were married and began their life together in Beaumont, a marital journey of sixty-six years. In 1963, Bill and Carolyn moved to Lumberton where he would spend his remaining years.

Bill owned his own business his entire professional life.  He owned his own furniture business in Beaumont for over thirty years from which he retired in 1985.  Everyone who knew him felt his deep respect for others and strong sense of integrity, which meant doing the right thing regardless of personal price. 

Bill loved gardening and spending time at his beach house. Most of all he loved to be near the true passion of his life, his family.

Bill is preceded in death by his father, Welton Barnes Priest, Sr.; his mother, Fannie V. Hunnicutt Priest; brothers, Welton, Jr. and Robin; sisters, Bonnie and Fan Alice; and daughter-in-law, Pam Long.

Bill is survived by his lifelong partner and wife, Carolyn; daughter, Joy Miguez and her husband Mike Miguez, of Nacogdoches; sons, William Welton Priest of Winnie and Dan Priest and his wife, Nina, of Lumberton; daughter-in-law, Valerie Barnett of Virginia; grandchildren, Carrie Garza, Tara Hutton, Scott Miguez, Nicole Kordon, Sarah Torre, Alex Priest, and Emily Priest; great-grandchildren, Taylor, Brooks, Casen, Carter, August, Atticus, Jena, Macy, Tara, Asher, and Selah; and numerous nieces and nephews.

We would also like to extend a special thanks to those special caregivers who have made Bill’s life comfortable and have afforded us the ability to as a family provide the level of care and compassion to him that he so richly deserved.  You have all become special members of our family and you have our gratitude and a special place in our hearts. 

A memorial service for Mr. Priest will be 2:00 p.m., Saturday, November 17, 2012, at Woodcrest United Methodist Church, 1684 U.S. 96, Lumberton, under the direction of Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont. His committal was held at Broussard’s Crematorium, Beaumont.