Obituary of William A. Feasley

William Agle Feasley was born on June 7th, 1931—the first day strawberries were sent into market that year—in Orchard Park, NY. His family relocated to Collins Center in 1938 before finally moving to Eden permanently in 1941. He attended Eden Central School and was a member of the National Honor Society and named an FFA Empire Farmer. A 1953 graduate of Cornell University, he served on its championship vegetable judging team for three years, was in the R.O.T.C., and lived in Cayuga Lodge where he was Steward. He received his commission as a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army and was assigned to the 510th Tank Battalion stationed in Mannheim, Germany. In 1956, Bill returned to form Feasley Dairy Farm, a partnership with his father Walter and brother, Bob, that produced and processed milk at a facility and storefront on their farm. On June 7th, 1957, he became engaged to Joan Butler of Addison, NY, whom he had met while she was a student teacher in Eden. Ten days later he lost his right leg and left knee in a farm accident. The VA declared he had a 50% disability in the right leg and 60% disability in his left leg, which helped him realize he was not completely disabled. It took two years with many surgeries before he could walk again, but he did. Bill served as Supervisor of the Town of Eden from 1970-1978 and again from 1990-1992, and was a member of the Eden Town Council from 1979-1989. Bill won eight Eden elections and was never defeated in an election for public office. His accomplishments as Supervisor were many. He formed Eden’s three agricultural districts, which helped protect farms in Eden, North Collins and Boston; established the Eden Police Department; oversaw the installation of sewer service; updated the Eden Master Plan updated; and helped devise and adopt an innovative new zoning ordinance. While Supervisor, he also helped oversee the construction and dedication of the *new* Eden Fire Hall and Eden Library. In 1974, he was elected president of the Association of Erie County Governments. In 1991, he was appointed Director of Erie County Community Development, a consortium of twenty-six towns and villages with an annual grant of three million dollars. He revised and implemented the system for awarding these grants, a huge benefit to towns and localities who were then able to complete larger and more meaningful development projects. In 1985, Hilbert College bestowed its Fellows Medal on him for his work in protecting Erie County farmland. In 2002, the Eden Republican Committee honored his decades of dedicated service to the community and residents of the Town of Eden. An avid bridge player even in his final months, Bill was a Ruby Life Master and an ACBL-certified bridge teacher and director. He was the much beloved husband of the late Joan Virginia (Butler) Feasley for 56 years; father of the late Janet and surviving children Lynn (Adam Blumenthal), Albert (Paula Kruszka-Agle), Carl (Diane), Jill (Kurt Lawson), Joy (Paul Swenbeck), Jennifer (Saju Bahuleyan); brother-in-law of Linda Wilson, who has been a generous and loving companion and caregiver for the past nine years, and Alice Feasley (late Robert); brother of the late Lucy Ann and Albert and surviving sister Barbara Fisher (late Maxwell); and is survived by ten grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and many other dear relatives—all of whom he carefully documented through his love of genealogy. Visitation will be on Oct. 7th at Laing Funeral Home Inc. 2724 W. Church St. Eden from 2:00-4:00 pm and 7:00-9:00 pm, with a funeral at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Eden on Oct. 8th at 1 pm In lieu of flowers or donations, please consider volunteering or doing an act of kindness in your community. Ours was greatly enriched by Bill’s willingness to do so.