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William Thaxton Earheart III

2/21/1954 - 5/13/2025

Obituary For William Thaxton Earheart III

William Thaxton “Billy” Earheart, III, 71, died in Fulton, Mississippi on May 13, 2025 after an extended struggle with cancer. Billy was born on February 21, 1954 in Tullahoma, Tennessee to William Thaxton Earheart, Jr. and Beatrice Christine Williams Earheart.

Billy had the perfect demeanor to serve as the big brother to three younger sisters-he was a kind and gentle brother (aside from that time he got one sister’s ankle tangled in his bicycle spokes). In his later years, Billy often spoke about how precious his grandchildren (also known as “skunkingtons” or “polecats of love”) were to him. He and his wife, Kat, spent many hours caring for Bailey, Olivia, Grayson and Dylan and that time was a joy for Billy. Billy passed away with over 30 years of sobriety. Without it, he would not have made it to 71.

Billy loved music early and had one year of piano lessons as a child. The piano teacher wasn’t teaching the music he wanted to play, so he taught himself. Inspired by Hammond B3 organ players such as Booker T. Washington, Jimmy Smith and Brother Jack McDuff, Billy played his first gig in 1966. In 1973, Billy was a founding member of The Amazing Rhythm Aces and received a Grammy Award in 1977 for Best Country Performance for Vocal Duo or Group for “The End is Not in Sight.” While playing with the Aces, Billy got to travel the world, opening for acts such as Jimmy Buffet, Fleetwood Mac, the Eagles, and appeared on TV shows such as Saturday Night Live and Don Kishner’s Rock Concert. He played with Hank Williams, Jr. and The Bama Band for over 20 years. He has also played with Al Green, BB King, Rufus Thomas, Mark “Muleman” Massey, Wet Willie, Eddie Hinton, Tony Joe White, Waylon Jennings, Gate Mouth Brown, Mississippi June bugs, and others.

Billy is survived by his wife of 42 years, Katherine; his son William Thaxton (Monika Wegmuller)Earheart, IV of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina and his daughter Laura Franklin Moody (Nic) of Tupelo, Mississippi; grandchildren Bailey Cate Moody; Olivia Jade Moody; Grayson James Moody; and William Dylan Moody of Tupelo, MS; siblings Janice Kersey Earheart (Jim Stevenson) of Memphis, TN; Judith Anne Earheart Plummer (Dale) of Nashville, TN; Mary Earheart-Brown (Jay) of Memphis, TN; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Billy was preceded in death by his parents and his grandparents Walter Herbert Williams and Laura Elizabeth Gordon Williams; and William Thaxton Earheart, Sr. and Louise Kersey Earheart.

A memorial service will be 2:00 on Friday, May 16, 2025, with visitation beginning at 12:00 all at Senter Funeral Directors chapel in Fulton, MS. Dr. Jay Earheart-Brown and Bro. Paul Earheart-Brown will be officiating. The family requests that memorial gifts be given to a charity of the donor’s own choice.
Online condolences can be expressed at www.senterfuneraldirectors.com

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Tributes

Steven R Cummings sent The Peace Lily for William Thaxton Earheart III - 05/15/2025

Our lives were truly enriched by knowing you Billy, and we pray for comfort for Kat and the rest of your family. With love, Steve & Diane Cummings
Janice Ashcraft sent Sweet Moments for William Thaxton Earheart III - 05/15/2025

From the Janice and Jeannette in Alabama
D Wayne Smith planted 5 trees in memory of William Thaxton Earheart III . - 05/14/2025

Condolences

05/17/2025

Mike Smoot

I played in a band with Billy and Russell Smith in Knoxville right before they moved to Memphis in '72 or 73.I lived in 2 different houses with Billy. The last one was in predominantly black neighborhood and we would go to a BBQ joint and eat chicken wings on white bread , go back home and listen to Jimmy Smith albums. Rest in Peace old friend 🧡
05/16/2025

Celia Malone Kingsbury

Rest in peace, cousin. My thoughts are with you all.
05/15/2025

Andy Moore

Love to Kat, Willie, & Frankie from The Moore Family
05/15/2025

Clark Richey

I have been greatly blessed to know Billy, an excellent musician and an excellent man.
05/15/2025

Richey Center for The Arts

We will keep the music playing for you... ~Richey Center for the Arts and members of the June Bug Band.
05/15/2025

Kathy and Don Strength

Our deepest sympathy to Kat and all the family. Prayers for peace, strength and comfort during this time. Don and Kathy Strength
05/15/2025

Jeannette Bodden

Billy was a wonderful light in my musical life since I was 12 and my mother started taking me to Hank concerts. He was always so kind and patient with the fans even when he was tired and just wanted to get back to the hotel and rest. A true gentleman and an exceptional human being. He will be missed in Alabama.
05/15/2025

billy crosby

we were lifelong friends, ever since the early days on Edgewood Drive in Tullahoma. people often mistook us for the other. we did get to know Kat and the kids, but has been sometime since we got to visit. the legacy of Billy E. will live on! our best to the families, Billy and Marian Crosby
05/15/2025

Nancy Antoon

What a BIG loss for our group in Mississippi...He kept us dancing through the night! Great condolences from a Junebugs member.
05/14/2025

jack propps

i am so glad we met at a Aces gig and continued on thru facebook. we both were 'friends of Bills' and i was looking over our chat log and it was 12 years long ..he knew more about blues and music in general than anyone id ever known. RIP Buddy
05/14/2025

Kathy Tempelmeyer Merritt

My family lived next door to the Earhearts when we were kids. Billy was a good friend of my brother, Gene. I have so enjoyed his Facebook posts over the years. I will miss those. I send sympathy and condolences to Kat, Billy's kids and grands, and his sisters. I imagine Billy adding nicely to the heavenly choir. Rest in beautiful peace, Billy.
05/14/2025

Dennis Elrod

Dearest Kat and family. I am stunned and heartbroken to learn this news tonight, and am at a loss for words as I type through my tears. Billy was a great guy in high school and was always kind to everyone. He was very likable. He became an amazing musician and all who knew him thoroughly enjoyed his talent over the years. Since we reconnected here on Facebook, my wife and I have so enjoyed all of his posts, learning more about your sweet family and following everyone's milestones as the years have passed. And Billy had a great sense of humor. 🙂 His legacy of music will sustain us and keep him alive in our hearts, and his greatest legacy is you and the rest of the family. God bless you all during this difficult time Dennis and Leigh Ann
05/14/2025

David Austin

I guess first memories are of the graceful basketball player at West Junior High in Tullahoma, all the garage bands that formed in that era, Billy's dad, a formidable engineer, overseeing his becoming a great keyboardist and someone I have thought of for more than 60 years as a good and remarkable person. Glad you were able to achieve such a long marriage and large family. Rest in peace. Dave Austin
05/14/2025

James Bryan

Thanks for the wonderful memories from the '60's to the present. Rest in Peace Brother Billy you are no longer in pain. You will definitely be missed but not forgotten.
05/14/2025

Doug Walton

So glad I got to see you and the boys playing again last year in Paris. We did a lot of happy miles together my road brother and you were a great shotgun rider. RIP Billy, see you down the road later. Doug W.
05/14/2025

Anthony Zappa

I will miss you so much my friend.

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Fulton, MS 38843
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