Our Sweet William, Ellis William Campbell, Jr (Bill), passed away on September 17, 2023. Born in Eureka on January 15, 1940, Bill was the oldest of 4 siblings. Bill spent most of his life in Weott. As a child he attended the one room school house in Weott. He spent hours with his horse and dog hunting in the mountains across from Weott before the freeway was completed. He often spoke of proudly parading through town with his dog and a buck on his horses back. He enjoyed spending summers at his Aunt Florence and Uncle Nick’s house in Hayfork. He was proud to be an Eagle Scout and represent the Weott district.

Bill graduated from South Fork High School in 1958. While attending high school he played basketball and liked studying forestry. In order to be able to play basketball, Bill would start working as a junior in high school and he would continue to work hard for most of his adult life.

Because he worked so hard, Bill was able to buy his GTO in 1964. He would drive his GTO through Myers Flat, eventually catching the eye of his future wife, Patricia Caples. This love affair would last 57 years as Bill and Pat were married a short 6 months later, on March 7, 1965. The first of 3 daughters would be born on March 27, 1966.

Bill worked in the logging industry. He fell timber with both his father and his father in law. He would later run heavy equipment, loading logging trucks and working on the docks in Fields Landing loading the large cargo ships. Bill would later go on to operate large cats, doing restorative work in the National Forest in Orick.

Bill enjoyed the outdoors. He liked to hunt and fish; always taking his family with him. Hunting trips became camping trips where a lot of good memories were made with friends and family. He liked to take his family trout fishing, never complaining about spending the day untangling his daughter’s fishing lines or chasing down the trout that was excitedly caught and ended up in the brush.

Once Bill retired, he and his wife enjoyed traveling throughout the midwest. He would return to Tombstone, Arizona many times as it was one of his favorite places to see. Bill also enjoyed gardening in his retirement years. He enjoyed growing too many tomatoes and sharing them with family and friends.

Bill was a proud father of three daughters. He would often joke that he never had any time in the bathroom but he loved his daughters dearly. He spent time with them and was always there to help in any way that he could.

Bill was blessed with four grandchildren. He created many memories with them and was a solid example of a hard working, patient man. He spent time reading his grandsons the Sunday morning comics and spent nights “camping out” in the back of a pick up truck in the front yard. He would proudly attend their school and sporting events, supporting them and cheering them on. Bill enjoyed swapping timber falling stories with his grandsons and disputing what the best brand of saw is. He would travel many miles to spend time with his granddaughters. He enjoyed attending their extracurricular activities and being able to spend time with them while visiting the Bay Area. He would share stories of his grandkids and he was proud of them.

Bill is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Patricia; daughters Roberta, Carolee and Theresa; granddaughters Brooke and Breanna Fong and grandsons Justin and Reed Lang. He is also survived by his sister in law and very good friend, Christie Liening.

Bill was a kind and gentle soul and he will be dearly missed by his family. A celebration of life will be held at Milligan Hall in Weott on Nov. 11 from 1 p.m.-4 p.m.

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