Mr. John William “Bill” “Wild Bill” Ayler, age 92, of Vevay, Indiana, entered this life on December 30, 1932 in Carrollton, Kentucky. He was the son of the late Claude Terrell and Anna Laura (Gullion) Ayler. He was raised in Vevay, Indiana where he attended the Vevay High School. Bill was inducted into the United States Army on April 29, 1953 in Indianapolis, Indiana. He received the National Defense Service Medal, Army of Occupation Medal (Germany), and the Good Conduct Medal. Bill was honorably discharged with the rank of Private First Class on April 13, 1955 at Fort Sheridan, Illinois. For more than 40 years, Bill shared his talent and craftsmanship as a painter. He was a member of the Vevay American Legion Post #185 and the Vevay VFW Post #5396. Bill loved spending time outdoors, especially when hunting or tending to his garden. Wild Bill passed away at 2:56 p.m., Thursday, August 14, 2025, at the Norton King’s Daughters’ Hospital in Madison, Indiana.
Bill is survived by his sons, William T. “Billy” Ayler and his wife, Carol of Brownsburg, IN; his daughters, Tammy R. Short and her companion, Rick of Indianapolis, IN, and Gayanna Paugh and her husband, David of Indianapolis, IN; his grandchildren, Joe Ayler, Shannon Ayler, T.J. Short, Travis Short, Tristin Short, Ben Paugh, and Hunter Paugh; his great-grandchildren, Blake Ayler, Isabelle Ayler, and Waylon Short; his sisters, Nona Terrell Unversaw of MS, and Martha Sloan of Vevay, IN and his nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his father, Claude Terrell Ayler, died January 14, 1976; his mother, Anna Laura (Gullion) Ayler, died September 13, 1994; his grandson, Billy Ayler, died June 17, 2006; his sister, Donna Sue (Ayler) Bennett, died May 25, 2019; his brother-in-law, Paul Raymond Sloan, died September 23, 1991, and his nephew, Frederick Michael “Freddy” Jennings, died May 27, 2018.
Visitation will be held from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m., Tuesday, August 19, 2025, at the Haskell & Morrison Funeral Home, 208 Ferry Street, Vevay, Indiana 47043.
Funeral services will be conducted at 1:00 p.m., Tuesday, August 19, 2025, at the Haskell & Morrison Funeral Home, 208 Ferry Street, Vevay, Indiana 47043.
Interment and full military rites will be conducted by the Honor Guard of the Vevay American Legion Post #185 and the Vevay VFW Post #5396 in the Vevay Cemetery, Vevay, Indiana.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Vevay American Legion Post #185 or the Vevay VFW Post #5396. Cards are available at the funeral home or online at www.haskellandmorrison.com