William McCoy Coussons died Wednesday, July 10, 2024. Bill was born in Minden, Louisiana on February 13, 1934 to William Bryan Coussons and Willie Graves McCoy Coussons. He grew up on a farm in Dubberly, Louisiana. In 1955 Bill graduated from LSU with a degree in Petroleum Engineering. Soon after college he married Jo Lynn Mouser on June 3, 1956, and was immediately drafted into the US Army and they were stationed in Augusta, Georgia. He began his career in the oil and gas business in Louisiana and Mississippi. Bill had an opportunity to come to work with Muscle Shoals Gas and moved to the Shoals area in the mid 60’s. Bill and Jo Lynn quickly realized that the Shoals was where they wanted to make their home and raise their family.
In the late 60’s he began building and selling houses and eventually opened his own real estate firm, Coussons Realty, and construction company, WMC Construction. He was the owner- broker from 1975 – 2008. He continued selling real estate until 2019. He helped develop many agents in the area and always cheered their successes. He was also very instrumental in opening the Muscle Shoals Board of Realtors and implementing the MLS system locally. He served in every capacity for the board including President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer and served on every committee at the association. He was a devoted member of the Association from 1975- 2022 and always a multi-million-dollar producer. He was voted Realtor of the Year several times and he achieved the Realtor Emeritus Award. He built well over 300 homes in the area and developed Heathrow, Heatherton, Heatherhurst, Ryan’s Place, Beckman Place, Bridlewood, Winborne Park, Brannon Wood, Briarcliff and several others.
Bill was an active member of the community and served on many boards including the Port Authority, YMCA, Muscle Shoals Home Builders Association, Chamber of Commerce, SEDA, UNA Board of Trustees, Shoals Area Association of Realtors, and the Alabama Homebuilders Association. He was a founding member and longtime board member of the Alabama Home Builders Self Insurance Fund Board. He served as a councilman on the Florence City Council. He loved this community, wanted the best for the area and was a wonderful ambassador for the entire Northwest area of the state.
For years he cooked a Saturday morning breakfast for a group of men where they discussed issues concerning Florence. This group met between 5:00 – 7:00 a.m. and they all knew not to disturb Jo Lynn and to have the kitchen clean before she woke up!! He made the very best homemade biscuits.
He was a wonderful father, father-in-law, and his pride and joy were his grandchildren. He was very active in their lives and loved them dearly.
Bill especially enjoyed his golf group at Turtle Point. They played regularly at Turtle Point and also traveled together to other areas. These trips included the wives where they always had such memorable times. He and Jo Lynn traveled extensively and enjoyed seeing this world, but they always knew there was no place like home.
In his later years he devoted his time caring for Jo Lynn and he was an outstanding caretaker. He was her rock until she died in 2016.
If you ever met Bill, you knew he was a permanently optimistic person and he had a very positive attitude about most any situation in life. He loved putting deals together, solving issues and creating inventive solutions to many different sorts of situations. He absolutely had an opinion on most topics and did not mind sharing it! He was a wise man, and countless people sought his guidance and he genuinely liked to help people.
Bill is survived by his sons Michael Coussons and Russell Coussons (Robin) grandchildren Noah, Sarah Katherine, Sydney and Ella, sister Ellen Elizabeth (Beth) Woolridge, Monroe, Louisiana.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Jo Lynn Coussons, and brother, John Stanford Coussons.
The family wishes to thank Melanie Baker for her devotion to Bill. She worked for Bill from 1985 – 2024. The family would also like to thank Renee York for her help in keeping Bill mobile for the last 3 years of his life and being the highlight of many of his days. And to Keestone Assisted Living and the caring staff at El Reposo for the last month of his life.
The family will receive friends at First Christian Church on Friday, July 19, 2024 from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. with the service following at the church at 1:00 p.m. Williams Funeral Home is directing the service.
In lieu of flowers please make memorials to First Christian Church, 700 N. Wood Avenue, Florence, Alabama.
