Billy Barley

Billy Barley, 89, of Mt. Pleasant, passed away peacefully in his sleep on the night of June 23, 2017. He was born in Coffee Springs, AL, on November 12, 1927. Bill was the son of the late Ernest and Georgia Dixie Barley and husband to Marie Soubeyroux Barley. His father, Sergeant Ernest Barley, US Army, was transferred to Fort Moultrie on Sullivan’s Island in 1929 when Bill was 2 years old. He spent his childhood growing up on Sullivan’s Island, the Isle of Palms and Mt. Pleasant in the 1930’s. He served in the US Navy in the World War II era from 1944 to 1946. After the Navy, Bill served in the US Maritime Service (Merchant Marines), the Army Transport Service and the US Coast Guard. In 1949, he enlisted in the US Naval Reserve serving out of the Sixth Navel District, Charleston, S.C. After military service, Bill started what would become a lifetime career in the sales business, specifically insurance and real estate. His first job was with Bagwell-Elliot Auto Parts Company as a traveling salesman. In 1951, he went into the Life Insurance business with Durham Life Insurance Company as an agent, later becoming an assistant manager, and then a General Agent for Palmetto State Life Insurance Company. After a few years, he worked his way up with promotions that would require him to move him and his young family to Columbia SC. Having been raised on Sullivan’s Island, and in the Charleston area, that move to Columbia lasted only 6 months! Since the insurance company would not allow him to move back home and remain employed with them, he resigned, moved back to Charleston and started his own insurance company, Bill Barley Insurance Agency. In addition to the Insurance business, in 1958, he formed a real estate company, Bill Barley & Associates, which is now Barley Real Estate. In 1965 he formed a construction company to build homes in the East Cooper area, many of which are now in what are the older, established neighborhoods of Mt. Pleasant, plus Sullivan’s Island and the Isle of Palms. In 1970 he created a Residential Real Estate Training Company to teach the business of real estate, as well as conducted seminars for the Charleston Trident Board of Realtors. In 1974, with the help of Senator Strom Thurmond, he was appointed by the Veterans Administration to be a VA Real Estate Appraiser. From 1975 to 1980 he was appointed to and served on the SC Highway Department Condemnation Board. He was also an FHA approved and Conventional Real Estate Appraiser. In 1991, he became a Senior Designated Member of the National Association of Real Estate Appraisers. He remained very active with his appraisal business until his retirement in 2004. Bill was a member of Christ our King Catholic Church, and a former member of the Knights of Columbus, Charleston Trident Association of Realtors and the Real Estate Appraisal Institute. In addition to his working career, Bill was very active in politics with the Republican Party. While never holding office himself, he was known as a superb fund-raiser and organizer, helping many of the Republican Party candidates win election to office. He was always on the phone with various politicians and people running for office. Eventually, he had a phone jack installed on the backyard patio so he could sit outside at night and smoke a cigar while having a drink and talking politics. He served as the State Treasurer of the SC Republican Party in the 1970’s, during which time he was the Chairman of the Charleston SC Republican Party. He was awarded the Order of the Palmetto by Governor James B. Edwards and was the Founder and Director of the Citizens Service Office. Bill was also a Boy Scout Leader of Troop 36 in the East Cooper area. He loved cooking for his family, especially on weekends when his children got older. It would lure them home for some good family time and a fantastic meal. Our dad was a great cook, especially with the charcoal grill! He is survived by his wife, Marie Soubeyroux Barley; children, Susan Richter and husband William Richter (deceased), Victor Barley and wife Terri Crowe, Stephen Barley and wife Sheryl, Bruce Barley, Keith Barley, Matthew Barley all of Mt. Pleasant, and Brian Barley and wife Mary Beth of Wadmalaw Island, plus deceased twin children, Daniel and David (Danny and Davey); grandchildren, Christopher, Ashley, Zachary, Adam, Patrick, Jason, Joshua, Nicole, Jasmine, Skylar, Summer and Bella Rose; great grandchildren, Dylan, Landon, Baker, Bennett and Reese.
The family will receive friends on Wednesday, June 28, 2017 from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. in MCALISTER-SMITH FUNERAL HOME, MT. PLEASANT CHAPEL.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held Thursday, June 29, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. in Christ Our King Catholic Church, 1149 Russell Drive, Mt. Pleasant. Burial will follow in Mt. Pleasant Memorial Gardens. Expressions of sympathy can be submitted online at www.mcalister-smith.com.
Arrangements entrusted to McALISTER-SMITH FUNERAL HOME, 1520 RIFLE RANGE RD, MT. PLEASANT SC 29464, (843) 884-3833.