William Claiborne Clary, III

William Claiborne Clary, III, 84, of Franklin, NC, passed away on Sunday, August 24, 2025. He was born January 17, 1941, in Augusta, Georgia to the late William and Frankalene Clary, Jr. 

Bill grew up in Toccoa, GA and earned his Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Georgia (UGA) in Athens and an MBA from the University of Arkansas. Bill was commissioned with the U.S. Air Force through ROTC at UGA; he retired from the Air Force as a Lt. Col. in 1987. He worked and retired as a banker in Toccoa, GA and Roswell, GA. After retirement, he took his passion for fly fishing into another career as a fly-fishing guide out of Highlands and Franklin, NC.

Bill loved his grandchildren, family, and friends. His passion for the outdoors, traveling, and sports led him on many adventures, allowing him to meet various interesting people along the way.

Bill was preceded in death by his two wonderful wives: Linda Greene Clary and Sarah Wright Clary. He is survived by his son, Christopher W. Clary (Cheryl) of Davenport, Florida; two daughters, Amy Putnam (Larry) of Sylva, NC and Catherine Clary-Brown (Chris) of Stafford, VA; his four grandchildren, Kaitlyn Putnam of Sylva, NC, Kari Buchanan (Trenten) of Sylva, NC, Olivia Clary of Martin, TN, and Zachary Clary of Stafford, VA, and his adopted family Mike and Debi Manville of Leeds, AL; and many family and friends.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held Saturday, October 4, 2025 at 11:00 AM in the Chapel of Bryant-Grant Funeral Home with Rev. Sam Steele officiating. The family will receive friends from 10:00-11:00 AM prior to the service at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Highlands Memorial Park.

Online condolences may be made at www.bryantgrantfuneralhome.com.

Bryant-Grant Funeral Home & Crematory is honored to serve the Clary family.