William "Bill" Henry Nesbit

Bill was born on December 23, 1931 in Harvey, North Dakota to Charles and Inga Nesbit, he was the last of 6 children. Bill had an idyllic childhood as a Boy Scout, lifeguard on the Sheyenne river, bird hunting with his dad and dog, and playing clarinet in his HS band. All under the loving care of mother Inga. He also learned the trade of watchmaking from his father, a skill that runs 4 generations to date in the Nesbit family. After high school Bill took a break from watchmaking to serve in the Korean War, following in the footsteps of his brothers who served in WWII. Dad shared the story late in life he and mom walking the shoreline of Washington’s Ocean Shores and finding a decommissioned military ship run aground due to high winds during transport to salvage. It was the SS McKinley, the same ship that had transported troops including dad to and from Korea all this years ago.

When the war ended, Bill returned home to watchmaking and to meet the love of his life Wiona Mae Clark. The 2 were blessed with 4 children and married 60 years until Wiona’s passing in 2016. Bill and Wiona owned and operated their own Jewelry store in the 70's in Sidney, Montana until 2 robberies put them out of business. Bill and Wiona then decided to make a move to Washington, bought a house in Kirkland and Bill went to work for Ben Bridge. Before retiring Bill and oldest son Tom opened Nesbit’s Fine Watch Service in downtown Seattle. Bill and Wiona loved to travel with trips to Hawaii, cruises to Alaska and after retiring exchanging their house for a motorhome traveling throughout the United States and wintering in Yuma Arizona. Although enjoying the traveling, it was the forging of lasting friendships in Yuma with happy hour, potlucks, countless hours of cards, and their favorite pegs and jokers that gave them countless joy. In later years Bill treasured traveling the skies flying with longtime friend Jim Kyle in Jim’s plane. He was so confident in Jim’s piloting he would sometimes fall asleep flying post lunch.

He also enjoyed attending the Boys Club which dad often referred to as the liars club at Snohomish airport with Jim Kyle every Saturday morning. Bill loved his family; daily working long hours to provide for them. He loved the art of watchmaking so much he had his youngest son Mike build him a bench in his motorhome so he could continue repairing watches until the day he went into the hospital for the last time. Over the years he built an impressive collection of jewelry and pocket watches which after Tom and Mac sort through, will be generously handed down to family and friends. Young and old were drawn to Bill for his gentle nature, generosity and sense of humor. Everything was a “Big deal”, “Stuff happens and that’s not how you spell stuff”, “I have CRS”, and “That’s a bunch of heifer dust” were a few of his funny sayings. Bill had an unwavering love of basketball- Go Warriors!, cats which we often referred to him as the cat whisperererer, corn on the cob and Crown Royal. His cherished cat Mae will continue to live with his youngest daughter Cherlyn and her husband Bob (right, Bob?).

Bill leaves behind his beloved sister Jeanette Fisher of Laramie Wyoming, children -Debbie Camp of Cheney WA, Tom Nesbit of Kirkland WA, Mike Nesbit of Mountain Home AR, and Cherlyn Holmes of Lake Stevens WA; 13 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, and countless nieces and nephews. The family would like to acknowledge Seattle’s Veteran Hospital for their excellent and compassionate care of our father.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to The Fisher House via 1660 S. Columbia Way, Seattle, WA 98101.