Robert W. "Bill" Nalley

Longtime Jonesboro resident William “Bill” Robert Nalley, 82, passed quietly December 1, 2015. Born March, 19, 1933, in Central, SC, to Robert and Inez Nalley, he was an avid outdoorsman, craftsman, athlete, and adoring father and grandfather.
An accomplished athlete, Bill was drafted to play varsity football while still in the 8th grade and assisted the Central High School Lions achieve three state titles. Nominated as an All-American Football Player, he played in both the South Carolina All-Star Game and twice in the North Carolina/South Carolina Shrine Bowl; where he served as the Captain for South Carolina. Upon high school graduation he attended and played football for University of Georgia where as a freshman he was placed on the Varsity team, later transferring to the Presbyterian College. Bill was invited to play for the Pittsburg Steelers yet he declined; he felt an education was more important.
Nalley was drafted and served in the Army for two years, and then later played ball for the Arkansas State College Indians in 1958 and 1959 and graduated in 1961.
Always an adventurous spirit, Bill’s friends will quickly share tales about their exciting youth. Whether pushing his teammates to do their absolute best on the field of competition or taking a break from school with his teammates to go swimming, they lived their lives to the fullest. A formidable opponent, former teammates shared that often the rival teams would scream out to “kill” or “crush” Bill’s team – but to make sure “not to make Nalley mad enough he’d want to kill them!”
With an initial career coaching football at Newport High School, Bill transferred to work in sales for Barcraft in Conway, and then later to work in sales for his father-in-law at Allison Mobile Home Sales in 1963. He, along with wife Jo Ann built and opened Heritage Hills Mobile Home Park in 1966. An avid outdoorsman, he was a member of the American Quarter Horse Association and raised cattle and National and State award winning horses.
Bill was also a very talented craftsman who not only taught his daughters his love and skill, but he was instrumental in the construction of their homes.
Bill never missed an opportunity to be a part of his girls' lives. Whether attending a cheer and dance competition, beauty pageant, athletic event, or even teaching his daughters and granddaughter to ride horses and throw footballs - he was present always.
Bill is survived by his wife of 56 years, Jo Ann Allison Nalley; daughters Allison Nalley Fletcher of Jonesboro and her husband Mike; Ashley Nalley of Jonesboro; granddaughter Madison Fletcher of Meridian, MS; sister Eloise Horton of Central, SC; mother-in-law, Marie Allison of Jonesboro; brothers-in-law, Jerry Allison of Jonesboro and Johnny Allison of Conway; nephews Mike Horton of Chattanooga, TN, Donny Horton of Knoxville, TN, Lance Bailey of Clayton, North Carolina, Robb Allison of Jonesboro, and John Allison, Jr. of Conway; and nieces Joyce Anderson of Georgetown, SC, Kristin Allison Druey of Fort Lauderdale, FL, Gigi Allison of Fort Lauderdale, FL, and Whitney Allison of Little Rock.
Visitation will be Friday evening from 5:00pm-7:00pm at Emerson Funeral Home of Jonesboro. Funeral services will be Saturday morning at 11:00am, also at Emerson, with burial immediately following at Trinity Cemetery in Bono.
Pallbearers include: Jerry Allison, James “Lefty” Billings, Phil Carter, Derek Copeland, Bobby Hogue, Blake Owen, Bobby Ruff, and Chad Williams.
Reverend David Moseley, Senior Pastor from First United Methodist West Memphis, will officiate the service and graveside burial.
In lieu of flowers, the family is asking for donations to be made to the Northeast Arkansas Humane Society, Make-A-Wish Foundation, and American Diabetes Association.