William M. "Bill" Harkins

Jeffcoat Funeral Home

255 Friendship Road

Tallassee, AL 36078

Tel (334) 283-6801

Mr. William M. “Bill” Harkins, a resident of Auburn, Alabama, passed away Thursday, September 19, 2024, at the age of 86. He was born July 8, 1938, in Tallassee, Alabama, to Claude Lee and Ruth Thornhill Harkins.

Mr. Harkins is survived by his son, Lee Harkins (Mary) and their sons, Larson and Smith Harkins; son, Jason Harkins (Nikki) and their daughters, Taylor Harkins Davis (John) and Colee Harkins Britton (Scott); great grandson, William Everett Davis; and several nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Julie Smith Harkins; parents, Claude and Ruth Harkins and his brother, Claude Harkins.

William grew up in Tallassee, AL where he cultivated his love for outdoors and baseball. He spent many years hunting, fishing, and playing ball. After high school, William served in the Army where he was stationed in Germany for two years. He then attended Troy University in 1961 where he played baseball and still holds the record for most strikeouts in a seven-inning game (17). Shortly after, he married Julie and moved to Birmingham where they started their family. Afterwards, they decided to make Auburn, AL their home.

William and Julie ran a dining hall (Windsor Dining Hall) for a number of years where they formed countless relationships with students and families. These relationships extended outside of the dining hall through William’s mentorship. William offered them jobs, housing, and a second family. He similarly mentored many other young men through coaching sports and hunting. The impact William had on these lives is immeasurable.

In 2023, William received a Life Patron Membership award from The Bird Dog Foundation. This award acknowledged William’s 40 plus years spent breeding, training, handling, and judging field trials, as well as his recruitment of other participants in the sport. William took the time and made the effort to help young people in the sport by housing horses and dogs. He took in many young people throughout the years that otherwise would have passed through Auburn without knowing or participating in field trials. Many people leave their mark as hosts, breeders, handlers, and owners, but William left his legacy by pouring into the future generation of this sport.

William was tough, loving, hardworking and known for his old school mentality. He passed these values along to his entire family, including the circle of close friends that were just as strong as any biological family. However, he was most proud of the ones who called him “Papaw” - Taylor, Colee, Larson, Smith, and Will. Also included were his honorary grandchildren, Walker, Luker, and Patrick Davidson, as well as many children of close friends, all of whom he loved as his own.

The family will receive friends Monday, September 23, 2024, from 1:00PM until service time at 2:00PM, at Jeffcoat Funeral Home Chapel, Pastor Jim Tate officiating. Burial will follow in Rose Hill Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to one’s favorite charity.