William Charles Bayard

William Bayard was born in Seattle on August 26, 1925, the son of Charles and Hattie Bayard. He was raised in Seattle with two half sisters, Ruby Wilson and Betty Soper. Bill attended Lincoln High School, but left before graduation to join the US Navy. He later transferred to the Marine Medical Corps where he served during WWII. After the war, Bill finished high school and went on to attend the University of Washington earning a BA degree in Political Science utilizing the benefits of the GI Bill.

During his time at the University, Bill met and married the love of his life, Mary Catherine Jessup. He also taught one year in the Shoreline School District.

Based on his participation in the ROTC program Bill earned a commission as Second Lieutenant in the US Air Force and was stationed in Omaha, Nebraska, Thief River Falls, Minnesota, and Salt Lake City Utah. He received an honorable discharged from the US Air Force in 1956 as a First Lieutenant, and returned to the Seattle area to resume his career in education in the Shoreline School District. During his 30 years in Shoreline Bill taught English, US History, and was a Librarian, Counselor and School Administrator. He eventually earned a Master's Degree in Librarianship from the UW and a Counseling Degree from the Transactional Analysis Institute.

Bill served as a volunteer for Hospice at Northwest Hospital and as a tutor for Literacy Source. He was also active in church serving as a Sunday school teacher , Vestry member and lay reader.

Bill always said how lucky he was to have so many wonderful friends and a large and gregarious family. Although he traveled to Europe in retirement and enjoyed finding his ancestral hometown in Italy, his favorite place was back home in Washington on Decatur Island in the San Juan Islands. He loved to fish, feast on fresh crab, hike and take the entire Bayard tribe on camping trips in the famous canvas tent with the little red broom kept by the door flap.

Bill and Mary had five children, Sue (1950), Anne (1953), David (1957), Katie (1963), and Alison (1969). They lived in the same house for 54 years and were active in the Shoreline community. During his later years as the family expanded Christmas celebrations began to get even larger as he was delighted to welcome 12 grand children and 11 great grand children into the Bayard fold. All in all, Bill would say that it was a wonderful life.