William "Bill" Jesse Tyler, III

William “Bill” Jesse Tyler, III, 83, died peacefully at his home on Monday, February 23, 2026. He was born on December 28, 1942 in Miami, FL to the late William Jesse Tyler, Jr. and Suzanne Claussen Tyler.

Bill graduated from Miami Senior High School and was a National Merit Finalist. He attended the Air Force Academy where he played football until an injury ended his armed service career at the end of his junior year. He returned to Miami and worked at various jobs until joining the staff at City National Bank of Miami. He met Nancy Gregory on a blind date in 1966. She was the love of his life, and they married on July 7, 1967. In 1976, Bill and Nancy (Nanny) moved with their daughters, Kim and Dawn, to Atlanta, GA, where he took a job at Channel 46, a local faith based television station. He surrendered his life to the ministry and entered the Atlanta extension of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, where he completed an Associates Degree of Divinity in 1984. He served bi-vocationally as a Minister of Education and a Minister to Singles before joining the staff of the Atlanta Union Rescue Mission for Men in 1988. Ten years later, in 1998, he and Nanny moved to the Asheville area, where he was on staff at the Western Carolina Rescue Mission for a short time before joining the Buncombe County and later the Henderson County school systems. During this time, he served as a janitor, Special Education Assistant, and bus driver. He retired in 2015 from Henderson County Public Schools.

“Mr. Bill,” as he was best known, was a loyal and faithful friend to many. One long time friend described him as “so accepting” and “humble and gracious and unpretentiously so smart!” He was a voracious reader and was never without a stack of books to be read. He was also notorious for the number of “requests” and “holds” he had at the Hendersonville public library. After retiring, he rediscovered his love for Bridge and enjoyed playing in tournaments at the Vanderbilt Bridge Club in Tennessee, at the former River Ridge Club in Asheville, and at the Hendersonville Bridge Center near his home in Fletcher. Post Covid, he played online with partners all over the United States and recently reached his goal to receive the rank of Ruby Life Master in the American Contract Bridge League.

Mr. Bill lived a life marked by his strong faith in the Lord Jesus and his deep love for his family. As Grandaddy, he loved sending happy surprises from Amazon to his children and grandchildren, who, along with Nanny, were the lights of his life and who all loved him dearly. His greatest legacy is the Christian heritage and foundation he and Nanny laid for his family, all of whom are involved in some type of ministry, either as lay people, staff members, or missionaries. Because of their assurance that he is with the Lord, they will grieve with hope, knowing that Grandaddy is whole and healthy and communing with Jesus, face to face. With that, they will see him soon…Indeed.

Mr. Bill is survived by his wife Nancy Gregory Tyler; two daughters, Kim Scruggs (Joey), Columbia, TN, and Dawn Keel (Bill), Fletcher; five grandchildren: Mackenzie Lane (Caleb), Reynoldsburg, OH; Mallorie Keel, Togo, West Africa; Seth Scruggs (Megan), Columbia, TN; Zachary Scruggs, Columbia, TN; and Mollie Scruggs, Columbia, TN; and three great-grandchildren: Elizabeth Joy Scruggs, Columbia, TN; Briella Faith Lane, Reynoldsburg, OH; and Baby Lane, due in August, Reynoldsburg, OH. He is also survived by his sisters, Mary Schultz, Sandra Curry, and Peggy Hall; sister-and-brother-in-law Joyce and Rick Welsh, as well as a niece and several nephews.

Besides his parents, he was predeceased by his mother-and-father-in-law, Thelma and Howard Gregory, and brothers-in-law, Charlie Schultz and Tom Hall.

Please take a moment to send condolences and memories of Bill to memoriesofmrbill3@gmail.com, as no services are scheduled at this time.