Reports are that Bill passed away last night, more details to follow as they become available. Bill was a great great friend to all who knew him and loved the Lord like few you will ever know. I talked to him a few weeks ago and he told me he was ready to go, no problem.
Larry Behm
RIP Bill O'Connor (Washington state steeler)
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Larry Behm
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RIP Bill O'Connor (Washington state steeler)
'70 D10 Black fatback Emmons PP, Hilton VP, BJS bars, Boss GE-7 for Dobro effect, Zoom MS50G, Flamma Reverb, Planet Wave cables, Quilter 202 Toneblock, Telonics 15” speaker.
Phone: 971-219-8533
Phone: 971-219-8533
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Doug Jones
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- Location: Oregon & Florida
Bill suffered from Mesothelioma that settled in his stomach rather than the usual lung condition. He was stricken late this spring and withered fast. He played fiddle for Loretta Lynn when she lived in Washington and remained good friends with her all these years. My condolences to his wife Lois and the all the O'Connors. He was not only a Steel player, but a bassist and busy fiddler in the Gospel. All that knew him loved his for his kind and gentle nature, his quick humor and wit, the twinkle in his eye and his devotion to the Lord. As Larry mentioned, he told those that spoke to him, he was ready to go.
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Lynn Stafford
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Neil Rogerson
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Bill's memorial
Bill's life was celebrated Saturday July 9th at the New Horizens church in Kelso Washington.....the room was filled to standing room only....many of Bill's musician friends as well as neighbors and friends that loved his wonderful sense of humor and quick wit. I enjoyed playing with Bill in our Cowboy church band for the past ten years.....he was easy to love and will be hard to live without. His family are all talented musicians and lovers of The Lord... Neil
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David Wright
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Larry Cummings
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Susan Alcorn
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I remember Bill from when I spent some time in Portland about ten years ago. He was a nice guy and a good musician. My condolences and thoughts are with his family.
www.susanalcorn.net
"So this is how you swim inward. So this is how you flow outwards. So this is how you pray."
- Mary Oliver
"So this is how you swim inward. So this is how you flow outwards. So this is how you pray."
- Mary Oliver
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Pat Goodbla
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Bill
Everyone that knew Bill will surely miss him. He was a real prince and a gentleman as well as being multi-talented. He lives on....
Patrick Goodbla
Pre-RP Mullen D-10 10/10
Pre-RP Mullen D-10 10/10
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gwAgD4Y ... re=related
Bill with Jimmy Gale and playing some fine gospel music.
Bill with Jimmy Gale and playing some fine gospel music.
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Jack Bowman
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- Location: Washington, USA
Bill Oconnor had an old fiddle , Lord, could he play that thing !
He played the Orange Blosson Special and made the rafters ring!
When he played gospel music,
it sounded like angels, breathing on the strings.
A well rounded Musician, Bill also played the steel.
He could start your feet to tappin' , no matter how you'd feel
He could do that "Steel Guitar Rag" with lightening in his picks
He played it so very good, but you couldnt steal his licks.
I had a dream , a few nights ago, when everything was still.
'was trying to help a man across a street and that man was Bill.
He said "Where are we, Jack, We've made it across, I'd say."
I said "Bill, we just crossed the "Jordan" on the the corner of Broadway.
Was in February that Bill told me. It'll soon be time to go.
so he sold his steels, and hung up his fiddle and the bow.
he told me, "Friend,I think I've played my last show."
I said Bill, you'll get better in a day or so.
He shook his head and said "I'm ready to go"
We lost Bill, back there in of July,
sometimes when we think of it, we both openly cry.
but my wife and I both know that he is in a better place.
We both still can see that warm smile upon his face.
For weeks Bill sat, an talked about the old days with me and the guys
How he and Loretta had done some shows 'n the old times twinkled in his eyes.
He also talked of his boys and girls and the band that they once had.
Kids, you need to know, you could have never, ever, had a better Dad.
Yes, In July his time ran out, but it's still hard to realize.
Sometimes I think....he just caught that ole 'Orange Blossom Special'
and rode her home, to Paradise.
He played the Orange Blosson Special and made the rafters ring!
When he played gospel music,
it sounded like angels, breathing on the strings.
A well rounded Musician, Bill also played the steel.
He could start your feet to tappin' , no matter how you'd feel
He could do that "Steel Guitar Rag" with lightening in his picks
He played it so very good, but you couldnt steal his licks.
I had a dream , a few nights ago, when everything was still.
'was trying to help a man across a street and that man was Bill.
He said "Where are we, Jack, We've made it across, I'd say."
I said "Bill, we just crossed the "Jordan" on the the corner of Broadway.
Was in February that Bill told me. It'll soon be time to go.
so he sold his steels, and hung up his fiddle and the bow.
he told me, "Friend,I think I've played my last show."
I said Bill, you'll get better in a day or so.
He shook his head and said "I'm ready to go"
We lost Bill, back there in of July,
sometimes when we think of it, we both openly cry.
but my wife and I both know that he is in a better place.
We both still can see that warm smile upon his face.
For weeks Bill sat, an talked about the old days with me and the guys
How he and Loretta had done some shows 'n the old times twinkled in his eyes.
He also talked of his boys and girls and the band that they once had.
Kids, you need to know, you could have never, ever, had a better Dad.
Yes, In July his time ran out, but it's still hard to realize.
Sometimes I think....he just caught that ole 'Orange Blossom Special'
and rode her home, to Paradise.
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Bill Bailey
- Posts: 1665
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- Location: Kingman, AZ
Bill
Jack, that was a beautiful poem honoring Bill, I never knew him, but may the Lord richly bless his spirit.
Last edited by Bill Bailey on 16 Apr 2012 2:02 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Bill Bailey
Kingman Arizona
2014 Mullen G2 D 10 8+5 Black
92 Emmons Lashley LeGrande D-10
Two Nashville 400 Amps and Nashvill 112.
Kingman Arizona
2014 Mullen G2 D 10 8+5 Black
92 Emmons Lashley LeGrande D-10
Two Nashville 400 Amps and Nashvill 112.
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Tony Glassman
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Jack Bowman
- Posts: 179
- Joined: 12 Apr 2012 10:43 pm
- Location: Washington, USA
Bill was a great friend. He and Lois dined with us many times and it was so very interesting to hear his stories.
Once I told him that I had played fiddle on live TV on a two years (1965-67) gig at KREX-TV but I hadnt owned a fiddle for over 50 years since then. He handed me his fiddle and said "see if you forgot how".....and I sawed at it for a couple tunes and it was real bad.
A few days later I heard a knock on the door and Bill was there and he told me that He was giving me that old fiddle because it needed playing. He said "You and this fiddle will get better the more ya play it."
We miss him.
Thanks be to God, we still have Lois in our lives.
Once I told him that I had played fiddle on live TV on a two years (1965-67) gig at KREX-TV but I hadnt owned a fiddle for over 50 years since then. He handed me his fiddle and said "see if you forgot how".....and I sawed at it for a couple tunes and it was real bad.
A few days later I heard a knock on the door and Bill was there and he told me that He was giving me that old fiddle because it needed playing. He said "You and this fiddle will get better the more ya play it."
We miss him.
Thanks be to God, we still have Lois in our lives.