Alvin Kelley (A. K.) Ashley passed away peacefully after a long battle with cancer on Thursday, June 25 at home. He was born in 1923, the son of Charlie Edward and Agnes Kelley Ashley and was a lifelong resident of Palo Pinto County. Alvin graduated from Mineral Wells High School in l941 and attended Texas Tech University before enlisting in the armed services December of l942. He served as an artillery officer in the Southwest Pacific Theater during World War II, leaving active service in 1946. His military career continued through Army Reserve, National Guard, and Active Army until retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel (Armor) in 1975 with thirty-three years of service to his country. At his retirement he was a tank battalion commander and an honor graduate of the Command and General Staff College. Concurrent with military service he was employed by the Texas Employment Commission for thirty-seven years as an employment specialist, job counselor, field auditor, and area manager. These job assignments took him into most of the entire North Texas area; contacting employers, municipal governments, schools, and other social service agencies. He retired from government service in 1984 and was a principal in an oil and gas operation in the area until completely retiring in l996. A lifelong sports enthusiast, he was one of four charter managers of Mineral Wells first Little League and served in various capacities within Little League for many years. He was a member of area baseball and softball teams, participating in local, state, and national tournaments. He was an avid golfer and continued his love affair with golf until the age of 89, shooting his age several times. Alvin was active in community and area affairs serving at various times on the Mineral Wells Parks and Recreation Board, a past president of the Noon Lions Club, a past president of Holiday Hills Country Club, an early area representative to North Central Texas Council of Governments. He was a life member of the National Guard Association of Texas, the Texas Public Employees Association, American Legion, Retired Officers Association, and various organizations associated with job security and employment related activities. He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers Melvin Ashley (1936) and Charles Ashley (1945), a casualty of World War II; and Lynette Ashley (1988) his first wife and the mother of his children. Survivors are his wife Sue Creighton Ashley of Fort Worth; son and daughter-in-law Charles (Chuck) and Ginny Ashley; daughter Victoria (Vicki) Ashley; and grandson and wife Jason and Malika Ashley and great granddaughter Sloane, all of Austin, and stepsons and their families, Will Creighton, Ken and Kay Creighton, their daughters Carly and Emily; Mark and Mildred Creighton and their children Ben, Parker and Martha. Visitation will be Tuesday; July 7th 5:00 to 7:00 PM at Baum Carlock Bumgardner Funeral Home in Mineral Wells. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to Vitas Community Connection Hospice (https://www.vitas.com/community-connection) or UT Southwestern Medical Center Willed Body Program, Office of Development, P.O. Box 910888, Dallas, TX 75390-0888