William Reid McAuley, Jr.

William Reid McAuley, Jr. passed away peacefully early Thursday morning, September 26th, 2024, in Raleigh, N.C..

Born in Wilmington, N.C. on October 15th, 1939, he was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 48 years, Betty Robbins McAuley; parents, Eleanor Elizabeth and William Reid McAuley, Sr, of Rocky Mount, N.C.; maternal grandparents, Harriett Legge and George Parker Howey of Southport, N.C.; paternal grandparents, Annie Lilly and William Rea McAuley, of Sanford, N.C.

Reid is survived by his daughter, Elizabeth Ashley McAuley (Don) Fish of Rocky Mount; son William Reid (Amisa) McAuley, III of Bad Wildbad, Germany; daughter Anne Howey McAuley (Christian) Groner; grandchildren Joseph Benjamin (Lee) Fish, Dr. Elizabeth McAuley (Frank) Fish, William David McAuley, Dan Ronan McAuley, Eleanor Reid Groner, Ewen Urs Groner; great-grandchildren Abigail Fish, Deacon Fish, Dawson Zier; brother, Thomas Howey (Georgia) McAuley.

Reid graduated from Fishburne Military School, Class of 1958, and was a proud veteran of the United States Air Force. He later attended North Carolina State University and North Carolina Wesleyan College. Reid’s business interests spanned hospitality and marketing, telecommunications, commercial and industrial cleaning, professional delivery services, and non-profit advocacy programs. Reid truly enjoyed people and sought any opportunity to volunteer. He was especially proud to be a reader at the Down East Radio Reading Service, serving the needs of the blind and visually impaired.

A life-long parishioner of The Church of The Good Shepherd, Reid, from youth to adulthood, served as an acolyte, member of the choir, and later as Lay Reader. He was devoted to his family and looked forward to participating in their lives, always willing to provide assistance, advice, or just an ear.

He enjoyed canoeing and kayaking, a good steak, shrimp and oysters, spending time with his four legged friends (Charlie, Brook, Zoe, Addie), and the Wednesday Night Study Club with life-long friends. His passion was books and reading.

Reid McAuley loved life and never met a stranger. He is loved and will be missed.

A memorial service honoring Reid will be held on Monday, October 7th at 11:00 AM at The Church of The Good Shepherd, 231 N. Church St, in Rocky Mount.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Reid’s memory to The Church of the Good Shepherd (https://onrealm.org/ChurchTheGoodSh3243/-/form/give/2023Pledge); the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research; (https://give.michaeljfox.org/give/421686/#!/donation/checkout); Transitions Life Care, (https://www.transitionslifecare.org/donate/); or to the Down East Radio Reading Service, Inc., Post Office Box 8706, Rocky Mount, NC 27804.