Joe Richie Ashley

Joe Richie Ashley, 71, resident of Pawnee Trail, died Sunday, February 4, 2018 at Maury Regional Medical Center. Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday at 2:00 P.M. at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home with Reverend Lon Byrd Broyles and Jimmy Rochelle officiating. Burial will follow in Polk Memorial Gardens. The family will visit with friends Tuesday from 4:00 P.M.- 8:00 P.M. concluding with a Masonic Service at 8:00 P.M. and Wednesday from 1:00 P.M. until service time at the funeral home. The family suggest memorials be made to Masonic Widows and Orphans Fund, c/o Grand Lodge State of Tennessee, 100 7th Avenue #4, Nashville, TN 37203. Condolences may be extended online at www.oakesandnichols.com. Born October 24, 1946 in Maury County, he was the son of the late Benton Pruitt Ashley and the late Nannie Lee Stepp Ashley. He was a 1964 graduate of Columbia Central High School. For 18 years, he worked for Monsanto Chemical Company and then worked for AutoZone and NAPA Auto Parts in Franklin where he retired. He was a 33rd Degree Mason in Columbia Lodge # 31 and a member of Al Menah Shrine Temple. Mr. Ashley was a Maury Regional Auxillary volunteer and served 3,887 volunteer hours. He was a member of Pleasant Mount Cumberland Presbyterian Church, where he was an elder. Survivors include his wife of 45 years, Elaine Byrd Ashley of Columbia; children, Jodi (Warren) Ingram of Columbia; Joel Benton Ashley of Columbia; and Jennifer (Derrick) Burgett of Columbia; sister, Nancy (Al) Buck of Montgomery, Alabama; granddaughters, Casey Lynn Ashley; Emma Grace Burgett; Macie Rae Burgett; and Sophie Claire Burgett; nieces, Becky (Mike) Cason; Denise (Blake) Knight; several cousins; two great nephews; one great great nephew; one great great niece; mother-in-law, Thelma Jean Byrd of Franklin; brothers-in-law, William Thomas Byrd; and James Nolan (Dede) Byrd and their daughters, Lauren and Leah. Active pallbearers will be members of the Columbia Masonic Lodge #31. Honorary pallbearers include elders of Pleasant Mount Cumberland Presbyterian Church and Maury Regional Auxillary. The family would like to express a special thanks to the nurses of the 5th floor critical care unit at Maury Regional Medical Center.