William Clary III

FRANKLIN - William Claiborne Clary III, 84, passed away Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025.
He was born Jan. 17, 1941, in Augusta, Georgia, to the late William and Frankalene Clary Jr.
Bill grew up in Toccoa, Georgia, 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 lieutenant colonel in 1987. He worked and retired as a banker in Toccoa, Georgia, and Roswell, Georgia. After retirement, he took his passion for fly fishing into another career as a fly-fishing guide out of Highlands and Franklin.
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. (Cheryl) Clary of Davenport, Florida; daughters, Amy (Larry) Putnam of Sylva and Catherine (Chris) Clary-Brown of Stafford, Virginia; his grandchildren, Kaitlyn Putnam of Sylva, Kari (Trenten) Buchanan of Sylva, Olivia Clary of Martin, Tennessee, and Zachary Clary of Stafford, Virginia; his adopted family, Mike and Debi Manville of Leeds, Alabama; and many family and friends.
A celebration of life service will be held Saturday, Oct. 4, at 11 a.m., in the chapel of Bryant-Grant Funeral Home. Reverend Sam Steele will officiate. The family will receive friends from 10 - 11 a.m., prior to the service at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Highlands Memorial Park.
Online condolences may be made at bryantgrantfuneralhome.com. Bryant-Grant Funeral Home & Crematory is honored to serve the Clary family.