Carlyle Ausley, Jr. passed away on July 21, 2021, in Ocala, Florida.
He was born on December 15, 1933, the son of the late Carlyle Ausley, Sr. and Stella Holly Ausley. A fourth generation Marion Countian and a lifelong resident of Ocala, Carlyle was a retired General Contractor who built many projects in Marion County and Central Florida. In 1958, he founded Ausley Construction Company which is now owned and operated by, among others, two of his sons.
Carlyle was always a busy man, whether involved in civic work, or professional or Christian service. He served as: Presidents of the Ocala Kiwanis Club, the Boys and Girls Club, the Marion County Home Builders Association, and the Fort King Tennis Board; Vice President of the Committee of 100 (EDC); a Trustee of Camp Kiwanis; and a past Director for MRMC (Big Sun Health Board). He also served on the Contractor’s Licensing Board for Ocala, and was appointed by then Governor Bob Martinez to serve on the Code and Standards Board for the State of Florida. Carlyle was a Kiwanis Legion of Honor Member.
Carlyle’s greatest service was for the Lord. He served many years as an elder in several churches. He also was a family man who loved being involved with his children and grandchildren, whether on trips, attending sporting events, hunting and fishing, or other activities. He proudly served in the Army Corps of Engineers as a Sergeant at Fort Rucker, Alabama. He graduated from Ocala High School in 1951, Marion Military Institute in 1953, and the University of Florida in 1958 (degrees in Civil Engineering and Building Construction).
Carlyle is survived by his wife, Shirley Starling Ausley. He is survived by the following through his first wife, Shirley Gooding Ausley: children W. James Gooding III (and his wife, Kara, and their children, Justin, Hunter, and Ausley), Mary Jo Lumsden (and her husband, David, and their children David (and his wife Abby, and their daughter, Nora), Daniel (and his wife, Hayley), and Lizzy), Kenneth C. Ausley (and his wife, Shari, and their children, Avery, Lawson, and Holland) and J. Steven Ausley (and his wife, Michelle, and their children, Zane and KaeLeigh). Carlyle is survived by the following through his second wife, Shirley Starling Ausley: children, Shan Bourgeois (and her husband Reese, and their children, Jenée (and her husband Joshua, and their children Bryleigh, Larkyn, and Briggs) and Ty Bourgeois (and his wife, Jenny), Walter Starling (and his children, Jason, Jarrod, Zachary, and Laramie J.), and Suzanne Starling. He is also survived by his sister, Rita Davis (and her husband, Richard). Carlyle was preceded in death by his first wife, Shirley Gooding Ausley, and his sister, Stevelyn Ausley.
Carlyle’s hobbies were tennis, hunting, fishing, reading, and watching college sports (particularly the Gator’s Football team).
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Kimberly’s Center, Interfaith Emergency Services, Women’s Pregnancy Center, Harvest International, or Hospice of Marion County.
A memorial service will be held Monday, August 2, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. at First Baptist Church in Ocala.