William Anthony Grehan

William Anthony Grehan, 89, died Tuesday, October 2, 2012 following a long illness. A lifelong Memphian, Billy graduated from Catholic High School and attended Christian Brothers College. He was a member of St. Peter Catholic Church. He was awarded 2 Bronze Stars after flying 55 missions in the Pacific Theater during WWII. He flew as a tail gunner on a B24 Liberator with the 90th Heavy Bombardment Group of the Army Air Corps. Billy served on the Board of the Memphis Cotton Exchange and was a partner with Barnwell and Hays Cotton Co. and later owner of Grehan Cotton Company. He was a member of the Memphis Country Club. An avid outdoorsman he was a former member of Hatchie Coon and Austin Landing Hunting Clubs. Billy was predeceased by his parents John Henry Grehan and Rose Hansler Grehan. His is survived by his wife Eleanor (Jenny) Powell Grehan; his sons Richard Anthony Grehan of Winthrop, WA and Geoffrey Allen Grehan (Gable) of Brooklyn, NY; his stepdaughter Katherine Lucas Hall (Richard) of Greenville, S.C. and grandchildren Valerie Kathleen Grehan, Katherine Eleanor Murdoch and Woodie Lucas Murdoch. Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Thursday, October 4, 2012 at St. Peter Catholic Church with visitation prior to the service in the Parish Hall at 1:00 p.m. Burial will follow at Elmwood Cemetery. The family requests that memorials be sent to the charity of the donor's choice. Canale Funeral Directors 901-452-6400 www.canalefuneraldirectors.com