On December 26, 1980, Bill and Joyce were married. Bill retired from Chrysler Corp after 33 years of employment.
After retirement, Bill spent some of his happiest times fishing for the BIG ONE. We are all so grateful for the 13 years he was able to fish the Bass Tournaments, we all know the joy it gave him. He thought so much of his fishing buddies and couldn’t wait to hit the waters.
In June of 2010 Bill suffered a stroke which took away his ability to drive and fish. He got two special four-legged friends, Puggy and Macy Blue, and adapted to time with the dogs and watching the different birds that came to the yard.
Bill loved children and times spent with the kids and grandkids were so special to him; they all loved him. He loved the Christmas gatherings at Kelly House where he got to sit and talk with all his family. He never lost his sense of humor.
In addition to his parents, Bill is preceded in death by his sister, Pat Sears; daughter, Kathy Sagley, and granddaughter, Sonja Sagley.
He is survived by his wife of 38 years, Joyce, and his children, Doug (Carol) Sears, Tammy (Danny) Hicks, Jason (Barb) Coombs, Benny (Carla) Coombs, Melanie (Steve) Hodson, and Charles Jason (Becky) Mitchell; grandson, Jay Mitchell (who he raised and thought of as his son; brother, Bob (Betty) Sears; sisters, Margaret (Walt) Nixon, and Joyce (Dan) Haalck; sisters-in-law, Janet McNally and Debbie Farrell; brothers-in-law, Kevin McNally and Mark Yohn; grandchildren, Ashley (Chris) McCool, Brandi (Cory) Buckner, Jessica Sears, Katrina Hicks, Joshua Hicks, Jennifer (Mikkal) Hodge, and Jessica Hodson, and Jay, Jaycee, Jake and James Mitchell; great grandchildren, Dayton, Colton, and Ella McCool, Hayden and Owen Buckner, Maverick, Wyatt, and baby girl Hodge due soon; and great-great grandchild, Echo Duke.
We are so grateful for the years we all were able to have Bill and all the precious memories we have shared. And though we will miss him dearly, we are grateful to our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, for giving us time with him. We are at peace knowing Bill is now where we are all longing to be, safe in God’s loving arms. We will wait patiently until we are all reunited, never to part again.
Family will receive friends at Sunset Memory Garden Funeral Home on Monday, June 4 from 11am-2pm, with a service to follow.
