Joseph Oliver "Pete" Ashley

Joseph Oliver “Pete” Ashley, 89 of North Fort Myers, FL passed away Thursday, March 27, 2025. Joe/Pete was born in Lake Providence, LA. to William Cleveland Ashley and Mildred Faye Barmore.

The family moved many times throughout his childhood including Fl., Ms., Az., and Or. While in Grants Pass, OR he was on the varsity football team and the drum major for the band.

He moved to Kalamazoo, MI. when he married his high school girlfriend Nancy Colleen Downes. They had 3 children together. The marriage ended but they remained friends.

Joe started his career in the paper industry working for KVP-Southerland-Brown Company-James River. He became the union steward and represented local 323. Joe continued his career until his retirement as a union arbitrator for the United Papermakers International Union AFL-CIO.

Joe was a lifelong Master Mason, starting with the Cooper MI Lodge #149 F&AM. He was a past master when the Cooper lodge was destroyed by the 1965 Palm Sunday tornado. In 2017, Joe received his 60-year pin on the same night that his grandson Adam was inducted into the Masons.

In 1984, Joe remarried to Patia DeCamp, in New Haven, IN. Last year they celebrated 40 years of love and fun together.

They spent their summers in Indiana and always had pool parties for the entire extended family each holiday. For retirement they bought a home in N. Ft. Myers and changed their residency. Eight months in Florida and four months in Indiana. The home in Florida was in a community with lots of activities, the best of which was golf. They play often and even got a few hole-in-ones. Joe even enjoyed singing in the Men's Chorale. Good thing he was in the back he joked.

Most importantly, Joe loved his family and they loved him. He proudly was known first by his kids, then the grandkids and finally by the great grandkids as PAPA JOE.

Joe is survived by his wife, Patia A. Ashley; his daughters, Karen Ashley (David) Hite, Rebecca Ashley (Don) Wiles, Cheryl A. (Jack) Morris, and Kathy A. Rodenbeck; his grandchildren, Ashley C. (Gerad) Malone, Adam C. (Ashley) Hite, Kevin A. (Kate) Randall, Kyle A. Randall, Tess (Russ) Jones, Corey (Lauren) Rodenbeck, Patia (Justin) Hardman, Caleb (Hannah) Denny, Tyler (Taylor) Beemer, and Jack (Jenny) Morris Jr.; 14 great-grandchildren; his sisters, Sylvia “Sis” A. (Bob) Perkins and Beth Ashley (Jules) Freeston; and his brother, Charles “Chuck” E. Ashley. He was predeceased by his parents, Wm. C. & Mildred F. Ashley; his son, Larry Joe Ashley; his daughter, Christine M. Cady; his grandson, Michael Christopher Ashley; his son-in-law, Randy Rodenbeck; his brothers, Clifton R. Ashley, Homer B. Ashley, Wm. C. Ashley Jr., and Kenneth W. Ashley; his sister, W. Diane Ashley McElveen; brother-in-law, Barney McElveen; sister-in-law, Ruth Morton; his puppies and many more extended family members.

At Joe’s request, cremation has taken place a “Celebration of His Life” will be held later this summer in Ft Wayne, IN.