Ashley Thomas DePriest died peacefully at Newton Wellesley Hospital on July 17 after a long illness. He was 77.

His sons Joe Shaun DePriest, Shaun Joe DePriest, James Reid DePriest Occouch Vanderhoop and Luke Tyler DePriest were all with him the day before his death and were able to say goodbye to their father.

He was born on Oct. 27, 1944, in Sanford, Me. to Avis Williston DePriest and Osby James DePriest. His father was an officer in the U.S. Navy and stationed in Sanford at the time. He was the fraternal twin to Osby DePriest.

His mother settled in Oak Bluffs on South Circuit avenue when the four DePriest boys were young. Ashley attended the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School, from which he graduated in 1964. He was a member of the very first undefeated football team in the school’s history in 1963. He then joined the United States Marine Corps and served from 1964 to 1968, including two tours of duty in Vietnam where he saw and experienced many atrocities.

He returned home in the summer of 1968. He married Bernadette Crossland Rebello on August 24, 1968, with whom he had four sons.

He held many jobs, including work at Andrews and Pierce Trucking, as a bouncer at the Lampost in the 1970s, laying tile and, most notably, being the groundskeeper for the Martha’s Vineyard Camp Meeting Association.

He was a kind, quiet, private man who lived life on his own terms. He was well known in Oak Bluffs and will be sorely missed by all.

He was predeceased by his brothers Robert Williston, Osby DePriest and Don DePriest.

A graveside service will be held at a date to be announced later.