Obituary

Lyle Ashley

Lyle Ashley, decorated Navy veteran, insurance agency founder, and well-respected Texas insurance professional, passed away Jan. 24.

Ashley, 69, received The Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze stars for his service with the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War.

He returned to his birthplace, Houston, after his military service, and began his insurance career in 1966 as a producer with W.T. Cooper Agency.

He formed Ashley Insurance Agency in 1970, which he sold in 1980. He then turned his attention full time to his wholesale insurance agency, Surplus Inc., which he had formed in 1975. He sold Surplus Inc. to Hilb, Rogal & Hobbs in 2004, remaining as president until 2008.

In 2010, he formed Ashley General Agency, a managing general agency in Conroe. He also was one of the founding members of the Texas Wholesale Insurance Coalition (TWIC).

Ashley served as a director of the Independent Agents of Houston, and on committees of the American Association of Managing General Agents and Texas Surplus Lines Association.

He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Janet Campbell McGavin Ashley; his daughter, Billie Gorrell (Dennis); son, Jack Ashley (Bethany); and daughter, Heather Nelson (Karl); his 10 grandchildren; his brother William; sister Jackie; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.