William Clark Fuller
January 29, 1941 – June 2, 2022
Tallahassee, Florida – William Clark Fuller died June 2, 2022, in the home he shared with Marilyn Yon Fuller, his wife of 28 years.
Perhaps his greatest legacy has been in the dignified way that he has faced both success and adversity. He repeated many a time over the last year of his battle with cancer, “I’m livin’ the life!” This is no doubt still true even in death, as he not only touched people but he empowered people.
Bill moved to Tallahassee in 1980 with Carolyn Grace Miller Fuller and their two children. As managing editor of the Tallahassee Democrat, he ensured that the Democrat served all segments of the community and he strived to make news about the government’s workings accessible to all local residents.
Bill joined the Tallahassee Soccer Association and helped to develop the Meadows Soccer Complex. He played a crucial role in bringing soccer to local public high schools. He played soccer until his mid-50s and was an enthusiastic supporter of the soccer lives of his children and grandchildren.
After Carolyn passed away in 1984, Bill threw himself into music. “Music saved my life,” he said in describing those difficult times. He formed long-lasting friendships with many local performers, appreciating both their talent and their humanity.
When both children left for college, he met Marilyn. They married in 1994, each of them bringing two children along for the ride. At the same time, they, along with partner Mark Kemp, started the nonprofit that would provide Bill immense joy for the rest of his life.
Bill was a grassroots co-founder, wearing many hats in the day-to-day management of Pyramid, Inc., an arts-focused day training program for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities. As head of HR, he was a champion for Pyramid employees in 5 cities around the state of Florida.
He was also instrumental in shaping Pyramid’s arts program. In his role as the Arts Director, he believed that all people deserved an opportunity to experience and participate in visual and performing arts. Bill was always in awe of the talents and abilities of Pyramid’s students. However, it was Bill’s interactions with them on a personal level, as the people they are, that was the true indicator of how big his heart really was.
Bill and Marilyn spent their off-time visiting their kids and grandkids in Atlanta, Philadelphia and Europe. His travels over the last 30 years took him to about 20 countries ranging from Australia to Finland to Rwanda to Bosnia-Herzegovina. His focus in travel was about experiencing the food, the music and, most especially, the people he met.
Before moving to Tallahassee, he had already built a full life, both professionally and personally. He was born in Tampa, Florida, on January 29, 1941, to Norbert and Myrtle Fuller. He graduated from Plant High School (1958) and the University of Florida (Political Science, 1964).
His newspaper career started while in college, working as a reporter for the Tampa Tribune and as an editor for the Florida Alligator. He also served in the US Marine Corps from 1958, leaving the reserves in 1964.
He met Carolyn Grace Miller at Tampa’s Palma Ceia Baptist Church and they married in 1964. They soon moved to Charlotte, NC, where Carolyn continued her teaching career and Bill worked for the Charlotte Observer.
Both became sailboat enthusiasts at the Lake Norman Yacht Club. They also developed a passion for hockey, University of North Carolina basketball and bluegrass music.
Bill worked at the Observer through 1976. After a year in Hickory, NC, the family returned to the Tampa area, where he was the graphics editor for the Tampa Tribune. After 3 years in Tampa, they moved to Tallahassee, Bill’s home until his death.
He will be remembered with special tenderness by his wife Marilyn Yon Fuller and their children Deron Fuller (Vanessa), Amy Fuller Descovich (Steve), Ken Yon and Kimberly Yon (Jamie Arnold); by their grandchildren Olivia, Ella, Viveca, Philipp and Luke Colin; his brothers Donald Fuller, John Fuller and Jim Fuller and his sister Nancy Walker and his mother-in-law Joe Ann Hansford.
A celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, July 30, at The Moon, 1105 E. Lafayette Street in Tallahassee at 3 pm EDT and will include a memorial service, followed by a reception. In lieu of flowers, Bill requested that donations be made to Pyramid, Inc., 311 N. Spring Street, Pensacola, FL 32501, or at www.pyramidinc.org.
Published by Charlotte Observer on Jun. 11, 2022.
