It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother, and brother-in-law after a courageous battle with cancer.

He was predeceased by his parents and grandson, Connor Long.

Bill leaves behind Lorraine, his loving wife and soul mate of 56 years, Daughters Sandra (Trevor) Long and Teena (Patrick) Monkman. Grandsons Travis (Sabrina)Winter and Adam Monkman, Great grandsons Ezekiel and Elias Winter, his brothers Fred and Mickey and sister Carrol, many sisters and brothers in law, his mother-in-law Rose Matheson, Mick, Leslee, Brody & Kansas Hatherly, lots of nephews and nieces, and many friends and acquaintances whose lives he has touched over the years.

Willie was born on a small farm in Cowley, Alberta. He moved with his parents, one brother and grandparents to Winlaw, BC. He started school in a one room schoolhouse in Penticton where his parents lived for a short while when they were picking fruit. They moved back to Winlaw and attended school until he left home and entered the workforce at 14 years old peeling logs in Beaverdell. He moved to Nelson and worked at Palm Dairy then drove a truck delivering match blocks. An opportunity to learn the tire trade brought him to Penticton where he worked for Len Reeve Tire before purchasing John’s Tire Hospital and moving his family to Osoyoos on March 1, 1966. He changed the name to Osoyoos Tire Hospital and took on the OK Tire Franchise. Health issues prompted the sale of this business of 12 years.

In 1979 he was elected as alderman for the Village of Osoyoos.

Two years later in January 1980, he, along with his wife, bought the Heslegrave building and established Imperial Books and Office Supplies. They joined Guild Stationers as a shareholder and the group established Office Pro. They became Imperial Office Pro until health issues again forced him into retirement after 35 years.

Bill was a people person. He enjoyed serving his customers and solving their office machine and furniture problems.

His community services included; three years on the board of directors for the South Okanagan General Hospital, Director of the Southern Interior Development Corporation, Member of the Okanagan Regional Library board, Member of the Osoyoos Chamber of Commerce, Spanish Development Society, Osoyoos Lions Club, The Cherry Festival Society – pulling the float, and royalty to many communities in BC and Washington.

Bill was an avid fly fisherman and in all his years of stream fishing he was never skunked. His greatest joy was to take his girls fishing and camping. He enjoyed working in his yard and fixing things.

He loved visiting with friends and family and many of them have experiences and tales to tell. He loved his trips across Canada, visiting all the provinces and enjoying the uniqueness each one held. He favored the Maritimes and made many good friends.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 10, at 11am in St. Anne’s Catholic

Church. 7610 87th St., Osoyoos.

In Lieu of flowers, it would be lovely to have donations to BC Cancer Agency.