I would like to say that when I think of my grandpa that I picture him in his garden, or taking a walk with Grandma, Panda, and me, or going camping in their old RV. The truth is, my strongest memory of my grandpa is of him standing in the hallway of their home on Kindling Lane, looking at me with the orneriest grin a face has ever worn, and thinking to myself that something must be very amusing to make him smile like that, and I was likely to find out soon who was on the receiving end. He was such a joker; always quick with a witty retort or a tongue-in-cheek, under-his-breath mumble (or an assertion of either ignorance or innocence, depending on the circumstance). He would profess to ardently disliking the dog that was practically glued to his leg next to him in his recliner or to being utterly unable to hear the chore-related request Grandma was bellowing from the next room (he would usually blame his hearing aid). Then he would look at you, wink, and grin that impish grin, and you knew you had been let in on a marvelous joke. 


He could be a solemn man, quietly reading or fishing or tending his garden. He was serious about his faith and had a powerfully strong commitment to the study and worship of the Lord, to his church, and to his family. Those are the qualities that made Bill Derrick such a good man. But the thing that made him such a wonderful grandpa, was always his delightfully ornery sense of humor. His amusement was contagious; he would flirt and jest his way from one end of the room to the other, and he would leave copies of his smile on the faces of those in his wake. I will keep that grin in my mind and my heart, and whenever I miss him too much, I will laugh and remember that I am in on the joke.

Having grandparents that live in a different state from you makes all of your visits special.   I will always remember him being fun-loving but very prankish.  He loved to kid around and we always had a good time as he and grandma always made us feel special.
 
Although I was young and homesick,  my favorite memories were created on the summer camping trip through the lower states with the "big trailer".   Going from campsite to campsite,   I know we had to drive him crazy,  but he never had a cross word to say.   Galveston Island (My first view of the ocean waters)  It was so much fun.
 
Thanks for the memories Grandpa Bill!  I love you!

My Grandpa was such an incredible, special man that it is so difficult to pick one memory or characteristic to talk about.  One thing I will always remember and strive to emulate is his devotion and love for my Grandma, and hers for him.  They had an incredible bond.  He loved to tease and playfully antagonize her, but at the core was rock solid devotion.  
 
I drove Grandma to visit Grandpa in the hospital last Sunday.  We didn't know it then, but it was to be the last time they saw each other in this life.  When we were leaving, she leaned as far as she could over his bed to give him a kiss.  He puckered up his lips to kiss her back.  That image of them being so devoted and in love will be one I always cherish.

When asked for a favorite memory of my grandfather, I thought, where do I begin?  There are so many of them.  He had so many wonderful qualities in life,  including honesty, a great amount of love for his wife and family, a bit of orneriness ( he liked to tease the ladies), and he was determined in whatever he chose to do (which might just be to piddle in the garage or the garden).
 
He had a few quirks that made me smile. For example, when he said several times a day “ Is there anything good to eat around here?”  If he did not get the response he wanted he would go get his stash of peanuts or mixed nuts and head back to his chair to watch the ball game. 
 
I would have to say my favorite memory of grandpa is when I got to spend most of the summer traveling with both grandma, grandpa  and my stinky brother Brad. I was probably about 8 years old at this time and yes brothers were stinky then ( he was 12).  We drove across most of the southern states pulling a camper and stopped at the campsites along the way.  Grandpa taught us lots of things that summer.  We learned how to fish in the river, shower in the campsites, clean and cook fish(yuck) and live the simple life.  But my favorite thing to do was sit outside and Play Wahoo in the afternoon or after dinner.
 
Oh, Chug Butt, you will be dearly missed by all!  May there be an abundance of peanuts and pie in heaven for you and a large garden for you to tend!

Bill has always been “Mr. Derrick” to me.  When I was in Boy Scouts with his son, Keith, I was a pretty annoying kid.  Mr. Derrick always gave me a lot of attention and looked after me.  He would listen to some long winded tale or one of my stupid jokes and laugh at them.  I shall always remember his patience and kindness.

I remeber when I was really young we would go fishing, and the whole time I would be playing with the minnows. Thats when Grandpa would get on to me about wasting the bait. When I was that young all I cared about was playing with the baits, would it be Minnows or Worms.

I'll never forget Grandpa cutting garden hoses to burn in the camp fires so it would make colors for us kids.

According to my parents grandpa would call me Jug Butt when I was little. However, I dont remember hearing it until I was in my teenage years. Grandpa would always have me clean out his gutters when I went over there and one day I decided to jump off the roof rather than climb down the ladder. Grandpa says, "What are you doin Jug Butt? You are going to hurt yourself." From then on we joked around by calling each other Jug Butt.

I remember as a kid going camping with him at Sequoyah and Thunderbird. I went by myself a few times. I remember how much fun I had. We fished, picked up pecans and grandpa let me drink coffee with the adults by the fire. I vaguely remember on one trip, the group had caught a lot of fish and were having a fish fry. He tried his hardest to get me to clean the fish with him. I watched but remember thinking there is no way I'm doing that!  


Most of all I remember him giving a slug in the arm or an elbow in the side. it was his way of saying I love you.

I remember one spring when I was a kid camping with Grandma, Grandpa, and Panda at lake Thunderbird. We were all sitting around the campfire. Some how I got Grandpa going on and on about how Panda wouldn't bark. I kept playing with him about how she would. He just insisted that she wouldn't. So I quietly went off into the woods around the camp site. I then started making noises to spook Panda. Well my trick worked, and Panda was barking up a storm. I think it was the first time we ever heard her bark. She was spooked and kept backing up into Grandpa Barking. We were all laughing, and Grandpa was just sitting there shaking his head and smiling.

Oh Grandpa where do I start. You taught me so much. Fishing, life, how to mow a lawn and get awards for it, stuff about knives, and most of all what a strong man is, mentally. Im so proud to be your first Grandson, and to be named after you. I love you Grandpa. The next time I get to go fishing I will catch one for you, And I wont waste the bait.

Kevin and Terri, what a wonderful Dad he was.  We sure enjoyed him over the years and could tell he loved his family very much.  We know you will miss him very much.  Love...Gary and Sandy

When someone special touches your life, they will live on in the memories you created together! Grandpa Bill you are someone special!!! Thanks for the memories!

OBITUARY

William "Bill" Derrick

September 22, 1915 – March 1, 2011

Bill Eisenhour Funeral Home

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