Roll Call Tribute

William C. "Clyde" Kerley 

January 25, 1941 - May 18, 2024 

William Clyde Kerley, age 83, passed away on the morning of May 18th, 2024. Clyde was born on January 25th, 1941, to Emmie Lou and Odus Clyde Kerley in Dallas, Texas. At the early age of nine, he accepted Christ as his Savior and maintained that faith throughout the rest of his life. He attended and graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1959.

Like his father, uncles, and cousins before him, Clyde attended A&M College of Texas where he was a member of the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets. While in college, he met Susanne Kersey, and they were married June 1st, 1963. Upon graduating, he went into the U.S. Army, Military Intelligence, as a Second Lieutenant. After various state-side assignments, he was sent to Munich, Germany where he was appointed head of an intelligence team focused on East Germany. During their stay in Germany, Susanne and Clyde welcomed their son, Andrew, and soon returned to Dallas.

Clyde was assigned to South Vietnam where he served in a Special Ops battalion as a Deputy for Support. A few months after the Tet Offensive, Clyde returned to Texas and left active duty as a Captain.

Over the next several years Susanne and Clyde welcomed their daughter, Teresa.

After serving in the U.S. Army, Clyde held several management positions before moving to El Paso, TX with Century Papers. Clyde taught Adult Sunday School Classes at several Baptist churches and served as volunteer Sunday School Director, Finance Chairman, and Deacon Chairman at First Baptist Church of El Paso.

After thirteen years in El Paso, TX, Clyde took the position of Regional Sales Manager with Affiliated Paper Companies, and moved back to Dallas where he would spend the rest of his career. After retirement, Susanne and Clyde moved North to Frisco, where he lived up until his passing.

Throughout his life, Clyde was honored with several accolades including: The U.S. Army Bronze Star, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary Foundation of Rotary International, and Golden Circle of the Sul Ross Group of Texas A&M University.

During the last years of his life, Clyde found joy in the service and friends from the Marathon Sunday School class at Stonebriar Community Church, being surrounded by his wife and family, being a member of The Heritage Association of Frisco, Collin County Historical Commission and of course, reading all the books he could convince Susanne to let him purchase.

Clyde is survived by his wife, Susanne Kerley; their son, Andrew Kerley and his wife Katie Kerley, and their daughter Teresa Tebrinke; their grandchildren, Sydney Cannon and her husband Coleman Cannon, Cassie Ammermann and her husband Jacob Ammermann, and Benjamin Tebrinke.

The combination of pride that came from being an Aggie, a born-again Christian, as well as being a part of a six-generation long line of Texans, was something that Clyde valued up until his last day.

A Graveside Service will be held at Stoney Point Cemetery, 8241 CR 1095, Anna, Texas 75409, on Thursday, May 30, 2024, beginning at 10:30 AM. A Memorial Service will follow at Stonebriar Community Church, 4801 Legendary Drive, Frisco, Texas 75034, beginning at 2:00 PM.

Clyde supported several favorite organizations and groups. He was not really a flowers type of person. We have been asked how to honor his memory with charitable donations. Clyde had a heart for missions and as such, please donate to your favorite charity in his name.

Consider giving to: Stonebriar Community Church, Marathon Class Missions, 4801 Legendary Drive, Frisco, Texas, 75034.  https:/www.stonebriar.org/ways-to-give/ 

Clyde was also an Aggie who held a deep respect for the traditions of the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets: A&M Corps of Cadets Association Memorial Gifts, 1134 Finfeather Road, Bryan, TX, 77803.