Obituary from the Fairbanks, Alaska "Daily News-Miner" newspaper, dated Sunday, March 21, 2010, page B-2:

William Alexander Foote, 92, passed quietly away on Tuesday, March 16, 2010, with his family by his side.

Bill was born the son of Alex and Annie Foote, and raised in the farmlands of west Tennessee. After completing high school, Bill served his country in the Army in the Pacific Theater during World War II. He returned to Tennessee and attended Union University, in Jackson, on the GI Bill. He was president of the student body, but the most astounding accomplishment of his college years was the courting and marrying of his freshman English teacher, Evelyn Carter.
Upon graduation, Bill then attended Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky. With Miss Evelyn by his side, he launched his career as a Southern Baptist minister for churches in Kentucky and Tennessee.

The Foote family expanded with the birth of their son, Tom, and two years later with the birth of Tim. They moved to Memphis where Bill pastored the Beverly Hills Baptist Church. He enjoyed the vitality of the church community as it flourished for the next 20 years under his leadership. It was during this time that his eldest son, Tom, died of leukemia at 15 years of age. Bill always said he thought he might lose his mind from Tom's death, but he never lost his faith.

Bill worked for a time for Union University back in Jackson. Missing his ministry, he returned to Memphis to pastor at Merton Avenue Baptist Church. Upon his retirement from Merton Avenue Church, Bill and Evelyn purchased a home in Memphis, but Bill continued to stay busy as an interim pastor at several churches. In 2003, son Tim and daughter-in-law Karen suggested that Bill and Evelyn, now in their mid-80s, consider either moving into an assisted living facility in Tennessee or moving to Fairbanks, so family could assist them. Much to the surprise of Memphis and Tim and Karen, they decided very quickly to move to Fairbanks. They received the Lord's blessing on this by the timing of a house right next door to their son becoming available for purchase on the day of their decision. For the next five years, they enjoyed being part of a large and loving extended family. They loved their comfortable and unique last home, with both referring to it as their favorite house they had ever lived in.

Evelyn passed away in August 2008, and Bill never stopped missing his beloved wife of 59 years. In the fall of 2009, Bill entered the Fairbanks Pioneers' Home as a resident. Alaska is very proud of its state homes for the elderly, and it surpassed all of Bill's expectations. He said it was like living at a high-end resort. Beyond feeling well cared for, Bill enjoyed his busy schedule and making many new friends who were at his same stage in life. Bill reveled in being a connector for people, and even in his final hours, he was expressing concern for those around him.

Bill was preceded in death by his son, Thomas Carter Foote, and his wife, Evelyn Carter Foote. He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Tim and Karen Foote, and their children Kate Ladd, and her husband Anthony, Alexander Foote and Olivia Foote. He leaves four great-grandchildren, Ryin, Siearra, Mia and Anthony Alexander Ladd. Bill considered Hunter and Carole Judkins as his family and is also survived by them and their children, Camille, Keaton and Hunter Kyle Judkins.

A graceful southern gentleman with a quick wit, unwavering faith and a huge heart, he will long be remembered and missed by family and friends. A memorial service will be held in Fairbanks at the Pioneers' Home, 2221 Egan Ave., at 7 p.m. on Friday, April 2. A service is being planned for Bill at Cherry Road Baptist Church in Memphis in the fall of 2010. Arrangements were by Northern Lights Mortuary.