William “Bill” Wydale McAbee passed away on May 21,2022. Bill was born March 7, 1937 to Mozell and Wylie McAbee in Safford Arizona, the third of seven children. They family moved to Texas and then on to California.
In his younger years Bill drove truck and bucked hay, as well as entering into Hay Bucking Contests with his brother Tommy. Bill married Hazel “Babe” Louise Harbert on May 4, 1958 and they were married 53 years, until her death on January 22, 2012. They loved taking the Bus to the coast and “Crabbing” every chance they got. In 1975 after settling in Happy Valley, California, Bill started working as a Truck Mechanic at Shorts Scrap Iron and Metals. He stayed at this job over 35 years. In his spare time he was at the lake, fishing, camping skiing and tubing with his family. The last 5 years, Bill lived in Merced, California with Alice Amis Brewer and had many great memories with her, her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by his wife Hazel “Babe” Louise Harbert, his parents Wylie and Mozell McAbee, his sister Carol Marley, his brothers Thomas “Tommy” and Bobby and his grandson William Wydale McAbee III, as well as his longtime companion Dotty - the Dachshund.
He is survived by his partner Alice Amis Brewer, his children William Wydale McAbee II (Jeri), Jeanie Louise Stone (Martin-deceased), Jerrel Dewayne McAbee (Linda), Sherry Diane Stoker (Tim), Stretch – the Dachshund, 12 Grandchildren, 34 Great Grandchildren, 3 Great, Great Grandchildren, as well as his sisters Weba Helton (Donald), Vada Derry, his brother Wylie McAbee (Colleen) and sister in Law Jeannie McAbee.