William Michael "Bill" Woolley

William Michael “Bill” Woolley returned to his heavenly home on May 1, 2025. Bill passed peacefully at home holding his wife, Maria’s hand. A man large in stature and in heart, Bill was born in Trenton, NJ on June 1, 1943. This man, who could fill a room with laughter and joy, spent the early years of his childhood in Hamilton Square where his parents owned a luncheonette that catered to vacationers headed to the Jersey shore. His memories included all the fun and joy the tiny community could hold. During his elementary school years, his family moved to Miami, FL with his grandmother. In Miami, Bill & his parents, Mary and Bert, were members of St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church where Bill was an altar server, a service that he cherished and reminisced about throughout his life. Bill attended St. Michael the Archangel school for his grade school education. He continued his education at Christopher Columbus High School (Class of 1961) where he made lifelong friends. Although Bill was an only child, his friends became his brothers and sisters, a practice he maintained throughout his life. The stories of Bill’s years growing up with the Marist Brothers that ran Columbus are family legend. After graduating from Columbus, Bill attended Miami Dade Community College and worked at the night desk of the Miami Herald, which provided fodder for many amusing tales as well! Bill transferred to the University of Miami and then to Florida State University. After he graduated from FSU, Bill married a dark-haired beauty with a twinkle in her eye, Kathleen “Kay” Ann Keating in 1966. The couple moved to Mariana, FL and started a family while Bill completed his graduate studies in Mass Communications at FSU. Bill’s work ultimately drew his family, Kay and their two daughters Mary-Margaret and Anna-Kay, to Tallahassee in 1978 where he lived and loved ever since. When he moved from Mariana to Tallahassee, Bill transitioned from working with the Panhandle Area Educational Cooperative (PAEC) to the Center for Career Development Services (CCDS) where he served as Executive Director from 1977-1988. In 1988, Bill took a leap of faith and ran for Leon County Schools Superintendent. He served as Superintendent from 1988-1992. Bill then became a Bureau Chief with the Florida Department of Corrections. As the Superintendent of Educational Service / Transitional services, Bill worked with hundreds of staff and thousands of students in 46 correctional institutions. He took great pride in updating and modernizing the GED and vocational programs that prepared the inmates to resume useful lives after serving their terms. Being able to help so many inmates to successfully reenter society and be productive citizens was a source of great pride for the rest of his life. Bill retired in 2004 to travel and spend time pursuing anything and everything his heart desired with his wife, Kay. European excursions and RVing with friends were favorite pursuits. With Kay, Bill became a leader in the Marriage Encounter movement, a role he relished for nearly 40 years. He was a former Krewe Chief, (with Kay), of Springtime Tallahassee’s 20th Century Krewe and remained a member until his passing. His grandchildren loved to see him in the Springtime Tallahassee parade each year. He shared his acting talent as a member of the Tallahassee Theater’s “Acting Up” cast. He was a member of St. Louis Catholic Church where he taught Confirmation classes for hundreds of teens over nearly 4 decades. Bill was a devoted member of the St. Louis Church Knights of Columbus serving as their Treasurer for many years. With the Knights Bill championed the annual “Boston Butts” sales. His sales pitch from the pulpit at the end of the church service encouraging the parishioners with “You’ve got to get your hands on one of these hot butts” not only resulted in a “sold out” fund raiser but also provided much laughter for the whole congregation. Bill Woolley was a very funny guy! In 2014, Kay, his beloved wife, passed away. Bill continued to pursue his interests and passions. . At the end of September 2014 Bill asked a fellow St. Louis parishioner and member of the choir, Maria Jimenez-Ordonez if she would like to join him for a glass of wine and thus began yet another wonderful adventure which included parades with Springtime Tallahassee’s 20th Century Krewe, travels to Mexico, the Mediterranean, Europe and many more trips within the United States. In 2019, Bill and Maria married, merging their lives and their families. Bill sat on a variety of committees and charities throughout his lifetime and relentlessly pursued his passion for helping others. He received many awards and recognition along the way but got the most satisfaction when someone he helped became successful. He was preceded in death by his wife of nearly 48 years, Kathleen Ann Keating Woolley, his father, Albert W. “Bert” Woolley, and his mother, Mary Katherine Sholtis Woolley. Bill is survived by his 2nd wife, Maria Eugenia Jimenez-Ordonez Woolley, his two daughters, Mary-Margaret (Patrick) Enfinger, and Anna-Katherine (Damon) Hutchison, his four step-daughters and sons, Angela (JB) Holden, William (Buffy) Powell, Tracy Powell, and Eddie (Jenny) Powell and the grand-children who called him “Pappy”: Liam Hutchison, Kaylee Hutchison, Zack Enfinger, Saige Gastón, Sofia Holden, Ari Holden, Leo Holden, Sydney Powell, Samuel Powell and Swayze Powell. A Celebration of Life service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, May 24, 2025, at St. Louis Catholic Church. The church will open at 10:00 a.m. with a Rosary being said at 10:15 a.m. led by Bill's dear friend and liturgical minister, An Min Bui. A reception will be held in the St. Louis Parish Hall after the service. In lieu of flowers, you can honor Bill's memory by donating to Bill's favorite charity at [https://secure.myvanco.com/YJC2/campaign/C-15HV2?access=tile_direct] . You can also remember Bill with an intentional act of kindness to help someone in need. Susie Mozolic of Bevis Funeral Home is assisting the family with their arrangements.

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William Michael "Bill" Woolley

June 1, 1943 - May 1, 2025