William (Bill) Howard Welliver (Aug.1958- Jan. 2025)

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Bill died peacefully in his sleep next to his wife Susan, after a four year journey with lung cancer. Bill was born in Elmira, N.Y. to Arthur Scott Welliver and Ann S. Clute. Sadly, his mom died young. His father later married Nancy Beecher, who was a second mom to Bill and nine siblings. He grew up in a large grey house on Hoffman St. in Elmira, N.Y. It brimmed with love, commotion, good food, discipline and a family dog named Duchess.

Bill adored his big family and reveled in talking about their escapades, meals, milk machine, and Nancy’s attempts to control ten kids. Seneca Lake was a huge part of the family’s life. It was there he learned to sail, water-ski, and spent many happy hours boating. He loved scuba diving in the deep cold water. When he wasn’t in the water, he was learning about tools and construction from his dad.

His dad’s sudden death while he was in college was a heavy blow. Soon after he left Elmira for Texas and was married long enough to have two children. The young family returned to Elmira where he began a residential construction company. Although the marriage was short-lived, his children; Hayley, Austin and step-son Reagan were the joys of his life. His face always lit up when he talked about his children.

Subsequently, he met his wife Susan in an evening business class. She hired him to side her house in PA. Unfortunately, as he and his crew cut into the siding they were swarmed with bees. The bee story became their personal rom-com. In telling their story they’d end with “and that’s how we became honeys.” Bees became their personal symbol. They laughed about the stories that brought them together and considered each other best friends and soul mates.

Eventually, he worked for his brother’s company, Welliver Inc. on large commercial projects. Bill thrived on supervising the construction of schools and universities such as Cornell University and the Clemens Center Theater. He loved the work and those he worked with. Bill felt rooted to the area through generations on both his father’s and mother’s sides.

As a result, Bill and Susan expected to remain in Elmira. However a visit to his sister Esther and their niece Tashina changed their destiny. They fell in love with the people, weather and culture of Eureka, California. They were drawn to the dynamic ocean and the arts.

Upon deciding to move, Bill applied for his California Contractor’s license. He established Welliver-Construction in 2005. He was proud to continue the Welliver lineage of general contractors that began in 1898. Influenced by his father, he became part of the community and volunteered often. He enjoyed being a board member on Humboldt Builders Exchange. Through his company he donated ramps to Tri County Independent Living. It was meaningful to him to see disabled individuals have easy access to their homes. His friends would often participate which made the projects fun as well as rewarding.

Bill valued friendship. He thought of his Eureka friends as a second family.
They enjoyed spending time together and knew they could count on each other. They watched sports, went to local races, airshows and went boating or fishing.

His favorite sports were NASCAR and football. Racing fascinated him since boyhood when he watched racing in Watkins Glen. He jumped at the opportunity to work as a tire changer for Team 34, a Busch Grand National Team. His passion for things he loved was so great it carried others along. For instance, many years later, his 91 year old mother-in-law watched racing with him, cheering wildly.

It was a bond he shared with his brother. While at Seneca Lake with Susan for a family reunion, Scott invited them to an event in honor of Richard Childress of RCR racing. Although it turned out to be the last summer he was at the lake it was one of their happiest. Bill and Susan gathered with sixty-two immediate relatives. The family presented Bill with a beautiful prayer quilt during a ceremony presided over by his sister Reverend Betsy Sentigar. Bill was deeply touched. Before returning home, Bill and his oldest friend, Jim drove through the lush green hills of the Finger Lakes looking for NY State’s best corn. They cooked it at his brother’s house, watching the lake, moon and stars through the trees.

Bill felt fortunate to live the life he wanted, to spend time with people he cared about; and to have time to say what needed to be said.

One might consider his wife Susan a caregiver at the end of his life. In reality, she was the fence supporting his blooming vine. His extraordinary view of life filled her with awe. She dwelt in his light and learned to see the radiance he saw. His generous spirit and fearlessness exemplified what Joseph Campbell called
“inner value” – “the rapture that is associated with being alive”.

Bill was predeceased by Arthur S. Welliver, Sr., Anne Clute Welliver
Nancy Hollands Welliver (step-mother)
Is survived by:
Wife: Susan Bloch-Welliver
Children: Hayley Anne Welliver (Ed)
W. Austin Welliver, Reagan A. Rubin (step-son)|
Siblings:
Arthur Scott Welliver, Jr. (Lori), Lynn Welliver Gagnon (David)
Dr. Pamela Beecher Prince (James), Mimi Welliver Petrillose (Bob)
Amanda Beecher Eubanks (Jim King), Rev. Betsy Welliver Sentigar (John)
Jane Welliver Bauer (Linwood), Judith Anne Welliver
Esther Welliver (Paul)

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to — Food for People: https://www.foodforpeople.org/
307 W 14th St, Eureka, CA 95501
Phone: (707) 445-3166