Obituary of Bill Hersey
WILLIAM “Bill” EARLE HERSEY
June 1st 1943 – July 22nd 2021
Bill died peacefully on July 22, 2021 with family by his side after a prolonged battle with Alzheimer’s. Bill is survived by his loving wife Sandra and their three children: daughter Paige Young (Scott) and grandsons Spencer & Sam, son Derek (Jessica Olivier) and grandson Henry, and daughter Meghan Lea (Andrew) and grandsons Benjamin and Ethan. He will also be missed by his sister-in-law Donna Killen, her family, and by the Wallace family. Bill was predeceased by his father, Earle, his mother, Gertrude, and his dear brother Wallace (Wally).
Bill grew up in the small coastal community of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, where he got up to all manner of mischief and adventure surrounded by the love and support of his large extended family, the Wallace’s.
In his early 20’s, he threw a dart at a map of Canada, taking him to far-away Timmins, where, as luck would have it, he found his soul mate, Sandra. They married on June 3, 1967, and settled in Toronto, and then Oakville. Bill will be remembered for his kind, giving heart, for his fierce love of family, and for his expressive language. He never failed to put others ahead of himself. His straightforward approach to life was appreciated by all.
Some of his happiest memories were spent with his children and some of his dearest friends at the Oakville Racing Canoe Club later to become the Burloak Canoe Club. Bill spent much of his free time helping to promote the sport of sprint canoe/kayak racing within the local community and across the province. He worked tirelessly to help improve the facilities, training environment, and equipment with a very hands-on approach. Bill was also instrumental in supporting women to race C boats where previously they had not been allowed and helping to get the Masters program up and running.
Bill enjoyed many decades working in the photographic industry, from which he retired in 2006 and relocated to Gananoque with Sandra.
We will miss Bill blaring Dwight Yoakam, stirring up a mean rum ‘n’ coke, and never holding back on shedding a tear and saying ‘I love you’ when it mattered most.
A memorial for Bill will take place in Yarmouth, NS summer of 2022.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Alzheimer’s Society of Canada would be appreciated.
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Bill
Hersey 1943 2021..
Death notice for the town of: Gananoque, Province: Ontario