Partly Cloudy, 35° F
(July 23, 1955 - Jan. 25, 2013)
Ernest Alan Asay, 57, died Jan. 25, 2013 in Cody from complications of diabetes and sarcoidosis. He was known as Alan to his friends and family.
Alan was born to Ernest Banks and Elda Mae Asay in Powell July 23, 1955.
He arrived just in time for lunch and his grandfather said he was never late for a meal since. He grew up in Billings and graduated from Billings Senior High in 1973, much to the relief of faculty and staff.
His biggest accomplishment was to find, pursue and marry the only girl he ever really saw, Kim Walling. They were married June 21, 1974. To this union was born a son, Eric Alan Asay, in 1978.
Alan and Kim began their lives together in Billings. They lived briefly in Blackfoot, Idaho, before moving to Bozeman, Mont., in 1977 where Alan worked for Sweetheart Bread. He was transferred to Cody in August 1979 and resided there until 1991 when they moved to Powell. After a leg injury kept Alan from working for Sweetheart, he drove a school bus in Powell for 10 years. He retired due to complications of diabetes in 2004.
Alan enjoyed service to others. He was a lifetime member of the Optimist Club, spent many years with the Powell Lions Club and was an avid volunteer with the American Red Cross. Alan was a lifelong Boy Scout. He received the Silver Beaver award from the Boy Scouts of America in 1992, the highest award for a volunteer. Alan was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints all his life.
Alan was a big teddy bear of a man, who could give you a grizzly bear of a hug or hold a newborn tenderly in his hand. He was jolly and sometimes overly loud with his zest for life, but always he cared for his family.
Alan was preceded in death by his father, an infant sister, Mary Christine Asay and nephew Mike Miller.
He is survived by his wife, Kim, of Powell; son Eric (Lisa) and granddaughters Nevi and Asia of Cody; his mother, Elda Mae (Gary) Jensen of Cody; sister Tammy Kae (Jeff) of Billings; brothers Todd (Nedra) of Oregon, Mitch of Cody and Jack Wolff of Powell; parents-in-law, Randy and Jean Walling of Wichita Falls, Texas (formerly of Powell); sisters-in-law, Freda (Jeff) Miller of Powell, Tammy Walling of Bozeman, Mont., Randi (Mike) Slaughter of Casper; brothers-in-law, Dick (Colleen) Walling of Florida, Sam Walling and Tony (Star) Walling of Texas; and many nieces, nephews and foster children.
Funeral services for Alan were Tuesday, Jan. 29 at the Cody Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Stake Center with burial at the Deaver Cemetery in Deaver. Funeral arrangements were under the direction of Ballard Funeral Home.
An online memorial is available at www.ballardfh.com
