William Lee “Bill” Lambert, loving husband, father, grandfather and lifelong resident of Eureka, passed away peacefully at home, on, August 6, 2020, at the age of 82.

Bill was born in Eureka at the old St. Joseph Hospital on F Street to William H. Lambert and Merle Sadie (Stewart) Lambert Perini. He attended Marshall Elementary and Eureka Senior High School graduating with the class of 1956. That same year, he started working for Pacific Bell as a telephone Installer and repairman. He retired in 1999 after 43 years of service.

On September 3, 1965 he married Merry Eva Davis of Eureka. Together they raised two daughters, Stacy Rene and Kelly Lace, and a son, Scott Edison.

Bill had a great love for people. There was nothing he loved more than to sit, talk and tell stories or make someone laugh. He had the gift of gab and BS. Whether he was near home or hundreds of miles away, he had the ability to meet someone new and learn their life story within their very first conversations. He never knew a stranger. He loved playing pranks on people and if he gave you a hard time, it was because he liked you. He was a big, strong man, stubborn but direct and had an incredible sense of humor and a twinkle in his eyes.

Bill was a man who took his time. He never rushed anything! As a young man, he was given the nickname “Slow Motion.” It stuck. He marched to the beat of his own drum and his own clock!

Bill was a proud lifetime member of the NRA. He believed that with freedom comes great responsibility. At the range or out at the cabin, he taught his children about hunting, shooting and gun safety.

Bill was was a hard-working family man, working long hours outdoors in inclement Humboldt County weather crawling under houses and climbing telephone poles to provide a good life for his family.

He was an avid outdoorsman, hunter and fisherman for most of his life. He even took Merry duck hunting on their honeymoon! In his off time, he could be found in the outdoors. He especially loved being out on the ocean in his navy surplus boat. He also enjoyed our cabin in the mountains near Showers Pass on the Mad River. Being at the cabin was a little slice of heaven. Many, many hunting stories and happy family memories were made there.

In 1981 Bill and Merry brought home Jasper the mule. Jasper’s arrival marked the beginning of the whole family’s captivation with all things Mules. With the addition of Abigail, Regis & Fred, “Slow Motion Mules” was born. Bill enjoyed trail riding, hunting/packing and riding the mules in many local parades with his daughter Stacy.

In retirement, Bill could be found having breakfast with the boys every Tuesday and Thursday at Adele’s or Gill’s By the Bay.

Bill is preceded in death by his parents William H. Lambert and Merle Perini, his beloved in-laws Ed and Ivy Davis and his infant grandsons Adam and Mason Lambert. He is also preceded in death by special friends Leo Maki, “Boy” and Betty Stapp, Lawrence Wilson, Larry Ward and Greg Fitch as well as many aunts, uncles and cousins.

He is survived by his loving wife of nearly 55 years, Merry, his children Stacy and Duane Brown of Eureka, Kelly and Jim Bruno of Eureka, and Scott and Kristi Lambert of Medford, Oregon as well as his beloved grandchildren Megan Bruno, Jack Bruno, Reid Brown, Lane Brown and Sage Lambert. He is also survived by his sister Lace Oliver and her family.

Bill also leaves behind good friends Tom and Jan Moore, George and Mari Holdner and Hank Pierson.

Our family would like to thank Rosana Bruhnke and Brittine Branchini for three years of dedicated loving care. Thanks to you, we were able to honor Bill’s wish to remain at home.

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