Guy Paul Ashley, 89, passed unexpectedly, yet peacefully, on September 1, 2026.

Guy was the fourth child and oldest son, of eight children born to Otto and Carmel Ashley. Kathryn, Edith, Helena, Guy, Gayle, Barbara, Carolyne and Ronnie.

He was preceded in death by his father Otto Ashley, his mother, Carmel Ashley (Brown), four of his sisters, Kathryn Elseworth (Burl), Edith Richardson (Donald), Helena Jumper (Hulsey) and Barbara Brown (Samuel), and leaves behind three siblings, Gayle Ashley (Vida), Carolyne Sissom (Ken), and Ronnie Ashley. (Elaine)

The child of share croppers, Guy worked alongside his family planting, tending and harvesting cotton and beans.  Guy's early days included farm work, school work, and baseball.  Baseball, being, by far, the favorite of these!

Guy attended Gideon High School, where he was a star baseball and basketball player.  He was selected Barn Warming King and was an officer in FFA.  While a student at Gideon High, Guy met Barbara Crowell, who was a drum majorette, cheerleader, Barn Warming Queen, and an outstanding student.  Guy and Barb became sweethearts, and the rest is history.

They married, and moved from Southeast Missouri to St. Louis, where Guy took a job with McDonnell Douglas Aircraft, the company for whom Guy worked his entire career. He retired in 1992, having worked his way from floor sweeper to the position of Production Control Expediter.

The couple raised four children, Paula Martin (Edgar), Laura Schuerger, Jeff Ashley (Jill), and Jeni Young (Jim). They enjoyed six grandchildren, Ashley (Scooter), Josh (Skeeter), Kevin (Mouse), Katie (Nubbins), Hannah (Kitten), and Jackson (Bear), and more recently, two great-grandchildren, Eva and Violet. Guy loved his family, was a wonderful provider and was fiercely proud of each and every one of them.

Guy's other passion was baseball.  He played on the McDonnell Douglas competitive baseball team, pitched fast-pitch softball well into his fifties, and coached Khoury League Baseball teams for many years. He was a contributor to the "Field of Dreams" Baseball Complex in Moscow Mills.

Guy was a dedicated Mason, having been a member for almost seventy years, serving as Master and receiving DeMolay honors.

Guy leaves behind a family who knew him as a husband, dad, grandfather, brother, storyteller, hard worker, hunter, baseball player, the Elhew dog man, a Mason, and Pop.  He leaves behind stories that will be told on front porches, around kitchen tables, at ball games, in garages, and wherever family and friends gathers.  His greatest legacy may be that he gave his family something better than perfect memories: good ones—the kind that get better every time they're told.

"Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation." — Joel 1:3

Visitation scheduled from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m., on Friday, September 11, 2026, at the McCoy-Blossom Funeral Homes & Crematory, 1304 Boone Street, Troy, MO, 63379, (636) 528-8244.

A memorial service to follow at 12:00 p.m. on Friday, September 11, 2026, also at the funeral home in Troy. Rev. Dr. Obie Dalrymple to officiate.

Memorial donations may be made to: Quails Forever or Missouri Baptist Children's Home, c/o the funeral home.

Family and friends are invited to visit our website at mccoyblossomfh.com to sign the online guest register.