On January 27, while gentle rain tapped on the window, Bill, surrounded by family and friends, quietly, peacefully drew his final breath and slipped away from us.

S William Peer was born in Greenville, Pennsylvania to David and Betty Rose Peer on the 28th of July 1951. He was raised in nearby Jeannette, along with older sister Diane and younger sister Donna. The surrounding woods and creeks were a playground for him in those early years. His love of the outdoors would be with him a lifetime.

After high school graduation in 1969 he headed south to Salem, West Virginia and attended Salem College, graduating in 1973 with a B.S degree. He remained in the area working with local and state social service agencies for the next 10 years. An urge to wander set in and he left to explore the southern Atlantic and Gulf coasts, settling in Key West with a job at one of the many guest houses there. Being a tourist town, he met many people from all over the world. After several years, the need to wander came again and he headed north to Boston, landing a job with the state social services agency. He was later hired by FedEx as a delivery driver. His route was in downtown Boston, and anybody that has ever driven there will know you need great driving skills and patience, which he had.

The lure of warmer weather called and after 10 years in Boston he headed south again, this time to West Palm Beach with a transfer from FedEx. After the move he took a part-time job at a neighborhood bar where he met many locals. Finally, in 1994 he bought his first house, a 1925 Spanish Mission style, in one of West Palm’s oldest neighborhoods. Gardening was his passion and he embraced all the tropical plants growing in that climate. His entire property was a tangled, tropical wonderland. A natural fit for Bill was to become involved in the neighborhood association where he organized and promoted their annual garden tour. It was a great success and continues to this day.

Bill and Steve began their journey together there. After several trips to the Bay Area and Sonoma, Bill decided it was time to introduce the love of his life to the real redwoods in Humboldt County that he had experienced on an earlier trip. So, on the next excursion to California, they headed north, left highway 101 at Weott and drove the Mattole Road ending in Ferndale. It was a magical introduction to the area, and they decided then and there to relocate. It took several years but in 2013 the big move from Florida happened. Together they created a fascinating home and garden in Humboldt.

Bill loved living here, exploring its wild nature and meeting what feels like lifelong friends. He soon became involved with the Eureka Heritage Society, joined the board, and happily volunteered long hours in the gardens at the Annie B. Ryan House. It was his passion project, and home away from home.

Bill felt strongly about community involvement and served on the Humboldt Grand Jury and as precinct captain for many elections. He was loving and direct, focused and fun. He enjoyed people, big events, British murder mysteries, books, travel, digging in the dirt, and exploring this beautiful place we call home.

He is survived by his husband Steve Tate, sisters Diane Bradford and Donna Wooldbridge, niece Monika Bradford and nephew Ryan Zabielski, many close friends, and best pup Paxy. We all have lost a piece of our heart with his passing.

Below are some thoughts and memories of Bill from family and friends –

  • You are in my heart forever.
  • I will miss you calling Steve “Sweetie”.
  • Goodbyes are not forever, are not the end; it simply means I’ll miss you until we meet again.
  • With talent, skill, charm and grace, he made the world a better place.
  • He made good things happen.
  • Leader, Intelligent, Fun, Good conversationist, Dependable, Caring.
  • When this astonishing couple arrived on our shores, we couldn’t believe our, and Humboldt County’s good fortune! Bill’s first appearance at the Annie B. Ryan house was an injection of brilliant energy. He inspired us and always will.
  • He leaves behind a lifetime of memories and a legacy of love, touched more lives than he ever realized and will forever be in my heart.
  • He had the ability to interact with difficult often obnoxious people at the Garden in a respectful, gracious way. Very productive.
  • I always admired Bill’s passion for the commitments he made.

Thank you to the nurses, aides, doctors, and other staff at Providence St. Joseph Hospital. Their care is appreciated more than they may know. We are fortunate to have them as part of our community.

A memorial will be announced at a later date. If you wish, please consider a donation to The Eureka Heritage Society and join them at one of their preservation-focused events. Lastly, stroll through the Annie B. Ryan Gardens at 1000 F Street. May you find the peace there that he did.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Bill Peer’s family. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.