William Douglas Ames

Bill was born January 17, 1943, in Muskegon, Michigan, to Laura L. (Fuller) Ames and Kermit B. Ames. He graduated from Western Michigan University in 1968 with a Bachelor’s degree in Communication.

A proud Army veteran, Bill enlisted on May 25, 1964, for a three-year commitment and served in Vietnam. His experiences in the Army, along with his many years in Scouting, became some of the stories he most enjoyed sharing. Bill was a gifted storyteller, always ready with a life experience, a lesson learned, or a story that could bring a smile to the people around him.

Bill was a man who believed in being involved. He was a member of VFW Post 6132 in Lansing, Sycamore Creek Methodist Church, where he enjoyed participating in the Men on an Island small group, Scouting America (formerly Boy Scouts of America) through the Chief Okemos District, the Chief Okemos Sportsman Club in Dimondale, and the NRA.

Scouting was a particularly important part of Bill’s life. He volunteered for many years, serving as a Unit Commissioner and frequently teaching shooting sports to Cub Scouts. He was Wood Badge trained twice and took great pride in sharing his knowledge and experiences with young people. Helping others was never something Bill simply talked about—it was something he consistently did.

Bill was exceptionally social and rarely needed an excuse to join something or go somewhere. He loved euchre nights at the VFW, Church in a Pub nights, and gatherings with friends. He was often the first one to arrive at a party, ready to celebrate the people he cared about. He enjoyed staying connected through social media and became known for his Sunday tradition of taking a “Pew Selfie” at church and sharing it on Facebook.

He also had a great appreciation for the simple pleasures of life: thrifting, shopping on Amazon, telling stories, and spending time with friends. He was an active participant in a Prostate Cancer Support Group at Sparrow, where his caring nature and willingness to help others once again came through.

Bill is survived by his children, Katie Ames and Thomas Ames; his sister, Connie Blanchard of Portland, Oregon; and his beloved orange cat, Freddy. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Those who knew Bill often say the same thing: he was the nicest man they ever met. He had a remarkable ability to make people feel welcome, valued, and included. He showed up—for his friends, his church, his fellow veterans, Scouts, family, and anyone who needed a helping hand.

Bill will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him. A Memorial Service will be held at a later date when family can be in attendance at Sycamore Creek Church in Lansing. In lieu of flowers, help send a Scout to camp https://fundraise.givesmart.com/form/O17WuA?vid=1sddx2

or support Footprints of Michigan who provide footwear to those in need (including Veterans). https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/footprintsofmich