Bryan "Gramps" Finley

William Bryan Finley, Jr., known to all as Bryan Finley, passed away on Monday, May 12, 2025, in Austin, Texas, almost a month prior to his 85th birthday. Bryan was born at home on June 8, 1940, to Myrtle Mae (Ballard) Finley and William Bryan “Bill” Finley in Amarillo, Texas. He was the middle child, with an older sister, Alice Ruth, and, a younger brother, Henry David.

Bryan attended school in Amarillo, graduating from Amarillo High School in 1958, and continuing after that with a few classes at Amarillo Junior College. The best and most important part of his education was the time spent on school holidays and summer breaks going to the job with his dad. There he learned all the details of carpentry and residential home construction.

At one of his college classes, he met Linda, the love of his life, and his life was forever changed. They were married on August 29, 1963, in Amarillo. He became the son that Linda’s parents never had, and had many projects and adventures through the years with her dad.

In early 1967, with an infant daughter Chrystal and a slump in home building in Amarillo, the Finley family moved to Austin, TX. There he quickly began working for builders in a booming housing market. He did trim carpentry, was an assistant superintendent, and built custom fireplace mantles, sometimes all at the same time. Through the years he worked for a number of builders in the greater Austin area, mostly as construction superintendent or partnering with his dad as a trim sub-contractor, eventually shifting to remodeling jobs. Although he loved his work and loved helping people, his absolute devotion was to the Lord and his family.

In 1968, he and Linda had a second child, Bill. Following in his father’s foot-steps, he took both his children to his job on school holidays and summer breaks. He also worked with his son and neighborhood boys in Boy Scouts, served as a Deacon in churches he attended, and was active in his neighborhood association, serving a number of years as President.

Bryan was predeceased by his mother, his father-in-law, O. G. “Buck” Reece, his brother, his mother-in-law, Ruth (Dolcater) Reece, his father, his sister, and his beloved daughter-in-law, Carolyn (Rushing) Finley.

Bryan is survived by his wife, Linda, daughter Chrystal and husband Greg Riley of Leander, his son W. B. “Bill” Finley, III, and granddaughter Patricia Finley of Liberty Hill, and his grandson and wife, Greg and Kacey Riley of Carrollton.

A visitation for Bryan will be held Monday, May 19, 2025 from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM at Victory Baptist Church, 1775 E Whitestone Blvd, Cedar Park, TX 78613, followed by a funeral service at 10:00 AM.