William Harrison Corey

Age 84, of Hemet, went to be with the Lord on Monday, February 10, 2014 at his residence, surrounded by his loving daughters Jeanne Olsen, Terie Bailey, Rebecca Robertson and son Bill. Bill joins his wife Pompey who passed in 2008 and all agreed that they will be dancin' the two-step in heaven, together forever. Bill was born on September 1, 1929 in San Bernardino, California to William and Lois Corey. He lived in the Hemet area for 66 years where he worked for Dill Lumber for eighteen years and then had another 20 year career with the Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD) as a procurement and inventory specialist. Bill was also a United States Army Veteran where he served his country reaching the rank of Sargent. After his retirement from EMWD, he and Pompey went in search for their "cabin by the creek," which they found in Salmon, Idaho and spent the last twenty years in the spring and summer months there tending to the ranch and taking trips into the back country. Bill was a true outdoorsman and he plied his skills to both hunting and fishing. The annual deer hunt every October was the highlight of his year during which time he passed on his knowledge to his son Bill as well as all of those who were lucky enough to spend that time with him. It was during those many campfire sessions that the now family famous "Corey-isms" became legendary; sayings that somehow captured thoughts and actions in a down to earth way and yet left no question as to what was being said or what needed to be done. Bill's stern manner tempered with a great sense of humor was the cornerstone of his family. His honesty, hard work and prudent sense of thrift gave his family a strong sense of security and served as a life model for his children and his grandchildren. In his relaxing time, Bill enjoyed old western movies and bull riding. He followed the PBR (Professional Bull Riding) circuit religiously and felt the most comfortable in his Stetson and Ropers which were pretty much his uniform of the day.

Grampa Sharp Ears (because he always heard everything) is also survived by his eight grandchildren, Tricia, Randy and Julianne Olsen, Justin, Jared and Jacob Robertson, Kristen Jensen and Emily Salmon and five great-grandchildren, Nicolas Perinsky, Emma Olsen, Laura June and Will Salmon, Bowen Robertsen.

Arrangements are being handled by Miller-Jones Mortuary, 1501 W. Florida Ave., Hemet, California.

In lieu of flowers, those who wish to honor Bill's memory are invited to send contributions to the Wounded Warrior Project (woundedwarriorproject.org).