Bill Lovelady (born Billy Vester Lovelady), 91, died in his sleep on April 23, 2015. The outline of his life is not vastly different than other men of his generation. He grew up during the Depression, served in World War II, and retired with a pension. However, his proudest achievements were not these. What he valued was education and he made sure all four of his children could obtain college degrees. He participated in the civil rights movement and challenged the status quo at the schools where he taught. He championed women’s rights and told his daughters they could become anything they wanted to be. He suited up and showed up wherever he could make a difference.
Bill had an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. He read everything from science to poetry. He set himself the goal of reading all the classics and when the U.S. became involved in the Middle East he read the Koran, thinking it best to go to the source material. He was generous in sharing what he knew and supporting the efforts of others. He befriended Chinese graduate students and helped them with their English. He quietly served as the father some folks never had. Bill loved his own children unconditionally. And last, but not least, he loved his wife through the good times and the bad.
Bill was the 6th of 8 children born to William Vester Lovelady and Mary Hatler Wilson in McKinney, Texas in 1923. When he was 19 years old, he was drafted into the U.S. Army where he fought in the Battle of the Bulge in World War II. He said his war experience made him a lifelong pacifist and he later became a Quaker. Ten years ago, he helped restart Helena’s weekly Quaker meeting. The one good thing he took away from his war experience was that he was able to go to college on the G.I. Bill. He attained a bachelor’s degree after three intensive years at several colleges: East Los Angeles Junior College, University of California at Los Angeles, Whittier College and Cal State Los Angeles.
At Cal State Los Angeles, he met Betty McCann with whom he had much in common: a love of literature, pacifism, liberal politics, poetry and music. When a classmate of Betty’s learned she was going to marry Bill, she remarked, “Well, that ought to be interesting!” They were married in August 1949, 65 years ago, and it’s been interesting ever since.
Bill was multi-talented and he had successful careers as a teacher, stenographer, welfare administrator, youth counselor, accountant, efficiency expert, general contractor, picture framer, and always a writer. He was retired when he moved to Helena 17 years ago and spent much of his time here reading, writing, and taking classes at Carroll College. He was known for his feisty letters to the editor, daily hikes, and ping-pong matches with his wife. With the help and encouragement of his friend Will Boland and daughter Georgia, he published a poetry book titled “Half-Blind Mirror” in 2012 that was well-received.
Bill and Betty had four children: Gale Lovelady (life partner Ed Maples), Gregory Lovelady (wife Sandra Sabbatini), Mukhya Kaur Khalsa (husband Hari Dev Singh Khalsa) and Georgia Lovelady (late husband Mike Franklin). He also left behind six grandchildren: Uma Bhagwati and Amar Das Khalsa, Eric and Cole Speer, Stella and Phoebe Lovelady and four great-grandchildren. He will be greatly missed by all his family and friends.
The family wishes to thank Dr. Weiner and his staff for the excellent care Bill received over many years. And in the end, thanks go to Hospice of St. Pete’s whose caring assistance allowed Bill to die at home as he requested. Bill and Betty could not have managed these many years without the help of their wonderful neighbors who kept tabs on them and did untold chores without being asked.
A memorial service will be held May 3rd at 10:30 a.m. at Touchmark,915 Saddle Dr., Helena, MT 59601, In the Forum room (the big meeting room at the top of the stairs). This will be part of the Quaker service and include sharing, meditation.
Service Schedule
Memorial Service
10:30 a.m.
Sunday May 3, 2015
Touchmark- Forum Room
915 Saddle Dr
Helena, Montana 59601
Service Schedule
Memorial Service
10:30 a.m.
Sunday May 3, 2015
Touchmark- Forum Room
915 Saddle Dr
Helena, Montana 59601
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Bob Morgan says
What a beautiful and gentle man was Bill Lovelady. A visionary and inspiration to those who were fortunate to make his acquantice. Blessings on him, Betty and their offspring.
Ries Lindley says
My father, Uncle Bill’s brother-in-law, used to tell a war story about Bill. The story probably improved every year, but the gist of it was always quintessential Uncle Bill. It went something like this:
Near the end of the European campaign, Axis soldiers were beginning to surrender in droves to American troops. It just didn’t make sense to go on dying with the handwriting already on the wall. One American, perhaps an officer or a master sergeant, was regaling an audience of allied troops with his brave and glorious capture of a German soldier. The American, who was a tad undereducated, approached the climax of the story with this version of the confrontation, “He reched for his gun, and then I reched for my gun ,” when Bill interrupted and finished the sentence with a very dry, “I retch.”
Bill lost his stripes and got reassigned. But he did not get forgotten. We will all miss him, his droll wit, his interest in absolutely everything, and his great smile. And my mother, who isn’t here to say goodbye for herself, would have missed you most of all.
Amy Phillips says
I always enjoyed being around my Uncle Bill. I would get so excited when he and most of the family would drive up from L.A. to San Jose to visit us. I would ride my bike around for hours waiting for them to arrive. He always treated me like an adult and cared so much about my life. One time he and Aunt Betty asked my parents if I could join them at their annual retreat in Moraga, Ca. They disappointed me by saying NO! Even the last time I saw them about ten years ago in Montana, he wanted to know what I had been reading lately.
He and my dad were close brothers. They went to college together and jointly built a house in Southern California. In later years, they would go round and round about what constitutes “real” poetry. Bill was the last survivor of the eight Lovelady siblings. He leaves behind many children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews that hold him dear to their hearts.
Narita Rody says
Uncle Bill was such a sweet and loving man with a tender heart. His phone calls and letters were so special. I loved his sense of humor. He was a special special man and uncle.
Robin McCann Burton says
My memory of Uncle Bill was of a kind, caring person.
When my brothers and I were very young, I remember when he, Aunt Betty, and our cousins came to visit us in Canoga Park.
Uncle Bill gave us the time to listen to our thoughts and what we were up to.
It felt good to have an adult stop and take the time to hear from a young child and be genuinely interested!
Katherine Keeney says
I never met Bill. But my best friend is Stephen Sewell, Bill’s nephew, who told me of Bill’s passing this morning. Bill wrote poetry and so did I. We developed a correspondence for a period of time exchanging poems, commenting on favorite poets, and generally encouraging each other to continue writing, continue expressing ideas in words and structure. We fell out of touch after a while but I remember his generous spirit and overriding curiosity. I’m sorry I never got a chance to spend time with him.
My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.