Mr. William Kenneth Tarpley, age 76, of Mineral Bluff, GA passed away on December 25, 2013 in the Heritage Health Care in Blue Ridge, GA. Born in Mineral Bluff, GA he was the son of the late Hoyt and Burnice Anderson Tarpley. At age fourteen he began to work at Anderson's Store and later purchased it in 1973 and changed the name to Tarpley's Store. Mr. Tarpley has worked there diligently since then six days a week until October of 2013. He was a member of Mineral Bluff Baptist Church and is also preceded in death by a sister Dorothy Hall.Survivors include his wife of fifty four years, Madeline Ross Tarpley of the home; daughter and son-in-law, Jan and Chris Beavers of Morganton, GA; brothers, Tommy Tarpley of Mableton, GA, Harold (Rosemary) Tarpley of Blue Ridge, GA and Gary (Kay) Tarpley of Maryville, TN; grandson, Kevin (Jennifer) Beavers; great grandchildren, Faith and Hope Beavers; several brother-in-laws, sister-in-laws, nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends. Funeral services will be conducted on Saturday, December 28, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. from the Akins Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Phillip Weeks and Rev. Grady Ray officiating. Music will also be provided by Rev. Grady Ray. Interment will follow in the Chastain Memorial Park Cemetery with the following gentlemen serving as pallbearers: Kevin Beavers, Bob Ross, Spencer Kitchens, Bobby King, Sr., Isaac Rice and Randall Davis. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Friday evening from 4-9 p.m. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.akinsfuneralhome.com. Akins Funeral Home of Blue Ridge, GA is in charge of the arrangements. .