William Gardner Grear

William Gardner Grear, 73, passed away Wednesday, July 30, in Fayetteville, AR. William was born Dec. 9, 1951, in San Antonio, TX to Edward and Mildred Grear. William earned a Bachelor's degree in Music Education from North Texas State University in 1980 and a Master's degree in Music Composition from Sam Houston State University in 1993. After graduation he moved to Austin, TX, where he worked for Alpha Music for almost two decades. A lifelong musician, William was a prolific composer and frequent performer on French horn, organ and piano. He arranged countless pieces for church, orchestra, various ensembles, and theatre. For 27 years he served as the organist at Wimberly Lutheran Church of the Resurrection. He was a founding member of the woodwind quintet, Waterloo Winds, in Austin, TX. He was preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Mildred Grear. Survivors include siblings: Treese Müller(John) and Tim Grear(Danna) of Fayetteville, AR; Nancy Fry(Chris) of Houston, TX; and Mark Grear of Valley Mills, TX; nieces Molly Grear of Seattle, WA and Rebekah Fry of Houston, TX; nephews Jack Müller of Fayetteville, AR, Matthew Müller of Portland, OR, Daniel Grear of Little Rock, AR, and Kohlton Fry(Andi) of the UK and great-nephews Silas and Keller of Houston, TX. William phoned his mom, Mildred Grear, every Sunday until her death in 2019. His ashes will join her in Texas.