Bill Jolley Dies in Oregon; Former Sitkan was Age 85
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- Created on Friday, 20 October 2023 15:31
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William (Bill) Ernest Jolley
William (Bill) Ernest Jolley, a former Sitka resident, passed away peacefully surrounded by family at St. Charles Hospital in Bend, Oregon, on Oct. 13, 2023. He was 85.
Bill was a cherished and respected man in his community, who was a loving husband, father and grandfather.
He was born in Hoquiam, Washington, Aug. 1, 1938, to Walter and Wilma Jolley, the second oldest of seven children.
He graduated from Hoquiam High School then started his career in sheet metal with his father, in California.
Bill was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1961 and served to 1963, stationed in Fairbanks. He next went to work for Olson Plumbing, Heating & Sheet Metal in Petersburg, and was there until the owners were bought out by his very good friend Frank Vilandre. After that he worked for Frank’s Plumbing, Heating, & Sheet Metal in Sitka for many years until he retired in 2000.
He was a member of the Elks Lodge for more than 40 years and active in many community events they hosted. After he retired, he rebuilt the boat Nelly Brown from the engine up and enjoyed fishing and his life in Alaska with his wife Iola.
He and Iola moved to Bend, Oregon, in 2010 to be near his three children and five grandchildren, and where he changed his hobby of fishing to small time farming, growing tomatoes and other vegetables and became a master lawn mower.
He is remembered as a gentle, kind, intelligent man who never made an enemy and never met dog he didn’t like.
Bill was preceded in death by his siblings Sharon Blanten, Richard Jolley and Suzzanne Owen and his parents Walter and Wilma Jolley.
Bill is survived by his wife Iola; his children Cynthia Stidd, Lynelle Buehner, and Gregory Jolley; his five grandchildren, Karmen Buehner, Zach Buehner, Brittany Stidd, Liam Stidd and Addison Stidd; his sister Virginia Friedman; his brothers Doug and Don Jolley; and several nieces and nephews.
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20 YEARS AGO
November 2004
Photo caption: Mary Lou Colliver presents Sitka Fire Dept. Acting Chief Dave Swearingen a check for $325 to help restore the 1926 Chevrolet fire truck originally purchased by Art Franklin. Colliver donated the money after her business, Colliver Shoes, borrowed the truck to use during Moonlight Madness. The truck is in need of an estimated $20,000 worth of restoration work, Swearingen said.
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Sitka Community Hospital Administrator Martin Tirador and hospital board chairman Lawrence Porter told the Assembly Tuesday about the need for a new hospital to replace the existing 18-year-old one. The cost would be about $6.89 million with $2.2 million of that required locally.
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