He never used three words when one would do when speaking, but as sparing as he was with the spoken word, he wrote very creatively and self-published several books describing his life growing up in the Depression years in rural Ontario, then going out to Western Canada to help with the Harvest in the late 1930's, and going off to War to fight for the country he loved during the 1940's.

When he returned to Canada with his Scots bride and new baby, he went back to farming and raising a family.  Bill worked at several different occupations with the longest duration being the 30 odd years spent as a turnkey and special constable at the County Jail in Barrie where he was known as a tough but fair custodian who got to know many of his customers outside of the walls as well as inside of them.  He was also very active in the Civil Service.

He was a man slow to anger, but with deeply held convictions which he would vigorously defend against any challenges to himself, his wife Anne, and their growing family.

Bill spent a lot of his time in the outdoors, working in his large woodlot, hunting, fishing, canoeing, raising food and cash crops, or just being close to nature.

It was a part of his quiet dignity that he never felt the need to impress anyone with his knowledge or deep insight into what made things work - it was enough for him that if something did not work he always knew he could fix it, and he did.  He always shared with anyone around him not just the fruits of his own labours, but the wisdom to create and grow for themselves.

Wherever Bill went he gained the respect and admiration of everyone he met with his "can-do" attitude, and made everyone he came in contact with feel as though they were one of his special people.  He had a quiet wink or nod for everyone and was always an essential part of any conversation - often by not saying a word, but observing and encouraging in many subtle ways.

The very essence of Bill was his quiet strength and strong conviction that you could never go wrong by doing the right thing.