Obituary for William Harrison McEntire
William Harrison (Bill) McEntire, age 93, passed away on April 3, 2021, in Brevard, North Carolina.
Bill was born in Rutherford County, North Carolina, on June 24, 1927. He was the oldest of two children born to William Jesse McEntire and Ethel Hardin McEntire.
Billy, as he was affectionately called, grew up in a colorful and lively family that boasted many aunts, uncles, and cousins. Throughout the trying times of The Great Depression and World War II, the family found sustenance as they shared stories and laughter on their front porch and around the family table, overflowing with delicious southern foods.
As a young boy, Billy leaned toward a creative life. He loved music, drawing, theatre performances, and playing in the high school band. When only 17, he joined the Navy and was stationed in Panama at the war's close. While on leave with Navy buddies, Bill had a life-changing experience as he walked in downtown Norfolk. He heard the wailing melodies of a saxophone spilling out the windows of a jazz club. Recalling that night years later, Bill said, "At that moment, I knew I wanted to play music like that."
After returning home to a short stint working in the West Texas oil fields, he enrolled at Appalachian State College under the GI Bill, where he earned an education degree. Blessed with movie-star looks, a creative spirit, and a desire to follow his renewed passion for music, Bill played the saxophone with fellow students in a jazz combo, which led to a life filled with music and sharing his talents through teaching.
Upon graduating in 1952, Bill married his sweetheart Alice Davis from Spartanburg, SC. The two had met on a blind date four years earlier, which sparked a romance that lasted 69 years.
The couple established a home in Charlotte, NC, where they raised five children. Bill worked for Lance, Inc for several years before moving back to his original calling of making music. He completed a degree at Davidson College, and the couple began a music studio business together. For 20 years, he was the director and arranger for a dance band, the Bill McEntire Combo, that played across the Carolinas. His many private students included his own five children. He taught public school music in Charlotte, Lowell, and, finally, in the Brevard school system beginning in 1975 until retirement. Mr. Mac, as called by his students, was a gifted teacher who delighted in their successes in and out of the classroom.
An avid collector of records, Bill acquired a legendary collection of vintage vinyl. He enjoyed cataloging and listening to his first edition greats. He would often lose track of time when a fellow collector would show up to peek into his musical treasure trove.
Bill never really retired. A self-taught guitarist, he spent hours lost in playing his vintage Gibson or giving lessons to a grandson, eager to keep the McEntire musical tradition alive.
Sometimes, he would put down his guitar and pick up a brush or colored pencil to recreate on paper what he saw in his flower gardens, another one of his many artistic creations. Most Saturdays, Bill could be found tooling across Brevard in his pickup searching for yard sale treasures. Countless neglected gems were brought back to the McEntire cabin to be restored and given a new purpose – often in his children's homes.
Bill and Alice were active ballroom dancers and participants in the Senior Olympics. They competed in athletic events across the state and nation and brought a collection of medals home to Brevard.
Bill and Alice were members of First Baptist Church Brevard. A devoted husband, father, teacher, and friend, Bill humbly shared his God-given talents. His gentle joy was contagious, and mealtimes around the family table always left a lasting memory filled with humorous stories that were replayed time and again. His life was a stream that flowed through and nourished all souls he encountered.
Bill was preceded in death by his wife, Alice (d. 2021), and sister Jane Brockmann (d. 1974). He is survived by five children: Shelley Richardson (Bruce) of Danville, KY; Christy Philemon (Sherron, d. 2020) of Mount Holly, NC; Brant McEntire (Olivia) of Brevard, NC; Mitch McEntire (Gail) of Asheville, NC; and Lani White (Jeff) of Franklin, TN. He was proud of his nine grandchildren, Benjamin (Megan) Richardson, Daniel (Amelia) Philemon, William Philemon, Justin McEntire, Jesse (Hannah) McEntire, Kurt McEntire, Tyler (Scottie) McEntire, Matthew McEntire, and Alexandra White Stevenson (Josh). Six great-grandchildren include Davis and Bennett Richardson, Isaac and Lucas Philemon, Shep McEntire, and Claire McEntire.
A memorial service will be held 2pm, Friday, April 16, 2021 at First Baptist Church of Brevard, NC, at 2:00 PM on April 16.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Brevard Middle School Band, 400 Fisher Rd, Brevard, NC 28712.
Online condolences may be left at www.moodyconnollyfuneralhome.com.
Bill was born in Rutherford County, North Carolina, on June 24, 1927. He was the oldest of two children born to William Jesse McEntire and Ethel Hardin McEntire.
Billy, as he was affectionately called, grew up in a colorful and lively family that boasted many aunts, uncles, and cousins. Throughout the trying times of The Great Depression and World War II, the family found sustenance as they shared stories and laughter on their front porch and around the family table, overflowing with delicious southern foods.
As a young boy, Billy leaned toward a creative life. He loved music, drawing, theatre performances, and playing in the high school band. When only 17, he joined the Navy and was stationed in Panama at the war's close. While on leave with Navy buddies, Bill had a life-changing experience as he walked in downtown Norfolk. He heard the wailing melodies of a saxophone spilling out the windows of a jazz club. Recalling that night years later, Bill said, "At that moment, I knew I wanted to play music like that."
After returning home to a short stint working in the West Texas oil fields, he enrolled at Appalachian State College under the GI Bill, where he earned an education degree. Blessed with movie-star looks, a creative spirit, and a desire to follow his renewed passion for music, Bill played the saxophone with fellow students in a jazz combo, which led to a life filled with music and sharing his talents through teaching.
Upon graduating in 1952, Bill married his sweetheart Alice Davis from Spartanburg, SC. The two had met on a blind date four years earlier, which sparked a romance that lasted 69 years.
The couple established a home in Charlotte, NC, where they raised five children. Bill worked for Lance, Inc for several years before moving back to his original calling of making music. He completed a degree at Davidson College, and the couple began a music studio business together. For 20 years, he was the director and arranger for a dance band, the Bill McEntire Combo, that played across the Carolinas. His many private students included his own five children. He taught public school music in Charlotte, Lowell, and, finally, in the Brevard school system beginning in 1975 until retirement. Mr. Mac, as called by his students, was a gifted teacher who delighted in their successes in and out of the classroom.
An avid collector of records, Bill acquired a legendary collection of vintage vinyl. He enjoyed cataloging and listening to his first edition greats. He would often lose track of time when a fellow collector would show up to peek into his musical treasure trove.
Bill never really retired. A self-taught guitarist, he spent hours lost in playing his vintage Gibson or giving lessons to a grandson, eager to keep the McEntire musical tradition alive.
Sometimes, he would put down his guitar and pick up a brush or colored pencil to recreate on paper what he saw in his flower gardens, another one of his many artistic creations. Most Saturdays, Bill could be found tooling across Brevard in his pickup searching for yard sale treasures. Countless neglected gems were brought back to the McEntire cabin to be restored and given a new purpose – often in his children's homes.
Bill and Alice were active ballroom dancers and participants in the Senior Olympics. They competed in athletic events across the state and nation and brought a collection of medals home to Brevard.
Bill and Alice were members of First Baptist Church Brevard. A devoted husband, father, teacher, and friend, Bill humbly shared his God-given talents. His gentle joy was contagious, and mealtimes around the family table always left a lasting memory filled with humorous stories that were replayed time and again. His life was a stream that flowed through and nourished all souls he encountered.
Bill was preceded in death by his wife, Alice (d. 2021), and sister Jane Brockmann (d. 1974). He is survived by five children: Shelley Richardson (Bruce) of Danville, KY; Christy Philemon (Sherron, d. 2020) of Mount Holly, NC; Brant McEntire (Olivia) of Brevard, NC; Mitch McEntire (Gail) of Asheville, NC; and Lani White (Jeff) of Franklin, TN. He was proud of his nine grandchildren, Benjamin (Megan) Richardson, Daniel (Amelia) Philemon, William Philemon, Justin McEntire, Jesse (Hannah) McEntire, Kurt McEntire, Tyler (Scottie) McEntire, Matthew McEntire, and Alexandra White Stevenson (Josh). Six great-grandchildren include Davis and Bennett Richardson, Isaac and Lucas Philemon, Shep McEntire, and Claire McEntire.
A memorial service will be held 2pm, Friday, April 16, 2021 at First Baptist Church of Brevard, NC, at 2:00 PM on April 16.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Brevard Middle School Band, 400 Fisher Rd, Brevard, NC 28712.
Online condolences may be left at www.moodyconnollyfuneralhome.com.