William Fawcett

William Samuel Fawcett, known affectionately as Bill, passed away at the age of 76 on October 2, 2024, in Buffalo, Wyoming. Born on October 2, 1948, in Portsmouth, Virginia, Bill was a man whose life was defined by his wisdom, handiness, and unwavering kindness.

After graduating from Chatsworth High School of the Los Angeles, CA United School District in 1966, Bill was drafted into the Army. Shortly after being drafted, he was deployed to Germany, where his skillful hands and sharp mind made him an excellent mechanic, maintaining tanks and other military equipment with precision and care. Once Bill returned to the states, he was stationed at Fort Riley in Salina, Kansas until being discharged. Moving forward after his service in the military, Bill took a position hauling and delivering feed across several western states for Gooch’s Best Feeds. Bill stayed with Gooch’s until an opportunity arose to work on a bombing range, and then later for The Corp of Engineers. Bill only stayed with the Corp of Engineers for a short period of time before moving to Craig, CO, where he eagerly took a position working for the Bureau of Land Management as a Range Technician. This position was well-fitting for a man who loved running equipment, had a strong sense for working with the land and possessed an impeccable ability of providing a communication bridge between landowners and government officials. After serving the ranching community for more than 30 years, Bill retired from the Bureau of Land Management at the age of 60.

Bill’s interests were as varied as they were passionate. He could often be found at auctions, his eyes alight with the thrill of discovering hidden gems among the trinkets and treasures. His love for running equipment and developing water projects was more than a job; it was a calling. Even after retiring, Bill was always ready to lend a hand to local ranchers, community members, and friends offering his expertise and labor. His leisure time reflected his love for community, with Bill enjoying his weekly coffee meetings, the occasional drop-in visits to various businesses and homes of friends and dreaming of spending his retirement surrounded by close friends and family.

Those who knew Bill will remember him as the man who could fix anything, who always had a wise word to share, and whose friendship was as reliable as the sunrise. His legacy is one of service, both to his country and to his community, and of love, to his family and friends. Bill’s life was a testament to the power of a helping hand and a warm heart.

Bill is survived by his wife, Casey Fawcett, his devoted daughter Kendel Hepp, and her husband Dennis, and his son Justin Fawcett. He was a cherished grandfather to Straus and Dallas Hepp, who will miss his guidance. Bill’s memory will live on in the hearts of his family and all who knew him.

As we bid farewell to William Samuel Fawcett, we celebrate a life lived with purpose and compassion. His spirit, characterized by his true grit and the good he did, will continue to inspire and guide us. Though he has left this earthly realm, his memory will remain a beacon of light for all who had the privilege of knowing him.

Bill’s life will be honored in a Celebration of Life to be held in his cherished hometown of Craig, Colorado, at 11:00am, on October 26, 2024, under the grandstands at Moffat County Fairgrounds. Family and friends will gather to share stories, laughter, and tears, remembering a man who was truly one of a kind. His passing is not just the loss of a beloved individual, but the dimming of a bright light that shone on everyone he met.

In his outspoken words of wisdom, Bill taught us the value of hard work, the importance of family and friends, and the true excitement of finding a great bargain. As we reflect on his life, we hold onto the memories that he has left behind, a treasure trove of moments that will continue to enrich our lives. Goodbye, Bill, you have left us too soon, but your legacy will endure. In every auctioneer’s call, in the purr of a well-maintained engine, in the hum of an old windmill, and the calm waters of your immaculate reservoirs, we will find a piece of you. Rest in peace, dear friend, husband, father, brother, and grandfather. Your story may have ended, but it will be told for generations to come.