Mr. William "Bill" Ralph Ayers, II, 81, of New Johnsonville, Tenn., and formerly of Massena, died April 17, 2011.

Mr. Ayers was born on June 28, 1929 in Massena.

He was the Class of 1947 Valedictorian at Massena High School, attended Cornell University, graduated from Clarkson College of Technology in Potsdam, received his BS of Chemical Engineering with Highest Honor in 1952, member Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society, President of Omega Chi Epsilon Chem. Engr. Honor Society, member of American Institute of Chemical Engineers and Nashville Section Secretary, Professional Engineer in the state of Delaware 1959, American Contract Bridge League Diamond Life Master 1986, two time inductee to DuPont Titanium Technologies Hall of Fame, former Waverly United Methodist Church Sunday School Superintendent in Waverly, Tenn., former Waverly Lions Club member and former Assistant Scoutmaster with Waverly Boy Scout Troup 575, current member of First United Methodist Church of New Johnsonville, Tenn.

He was preceded in death by his parents; Herbert and Esther Rowley Ayers, the mother of his children; Dorothy Held Ayers, step granddaughter; Krista Clapp.

Survivors include his wife; Jacqueline M. Ayers, New Johnsonville, Tenn., 3 children; Leslie Ayers, United Kingdom, William "Bill" Ayers, III (Christy), Burns, Tenn., Beth Hooper (Steve), Dickson, Tenn., 2 stepchildren; Connie Watson (John), Franklin, Tenn., T. C. Clapp (XueChanLi), China, 3 brothers; Robert "Bob" Ayers (Carol), Ithaca, Carl Ayers (Florence), Grand Junction, Colo., Stephen Ayers (Nancy), Three Rivers, Mass., 2 sisters; Milli Davis (Fred), St. Petersburg, Fla., Phyllis Nuffer, Birmingham, Ala., 4 grandchildren, 6 step grandchildren, 5 great grandsons, numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation Tuesday, April 19, 2011 from 6-9 p.m. at Luff-Bowen Funeral Home in Waverly. Wednesday visitation will be at First United Methodist Church in New Johnsonville, Tenn., from 11 a.m. until funeral service time at 1 p.m.

Rev. Ricky Lee will be officiating with interment to follow in First United Methodist Church Cemetery in New Johnsonville.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to: Alzheimer's Assoc., 4205 Hillsboro Pike, Suite 216, Nashville, TN 37215 or First United Methodist Church Building Fund, 718 Woodland Drive, New Johnsonville, TN 37134.