Bill Hamilton

William Leon Hamilton
September 26, 1943 – September 19th, 2023

With profound sorrow we announce the passing of William (Bill) Leon Hamilton. Bill, 79, was a cherished husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend.

Bill was born to James M. Hamilton Jr. and Pauline Deslatt Hamilton in Monroe, Louisiana on September 26, 1943. He spent his childhood in Corpus Christi, Texas where he graduated from Carroll High School. He earned a Bachelor's of Science in Petroleum Engineering from Texas A&I University in Kingsville, Texas in 1964. He joined the Air Force Reserve and was honorably discharged in 1970 with the rank of Second Lieutenant.

While serving at Barksdale Air Force Base and working for Sun Oil Company in Shreveport, he met his wife of 55 years, Jacquie Davisson. Married in 1968, they were blessed with three sons: Brian, Keith, and Jeff.

Bill started his professional career as a Process Engineer with Sun Oil Company. In 1976, Bill moved his family to Sheridan, Wyoming to join his brother, Jim, at Process Equipment Corporation. From 1986 to his retirement in 2004, Bill ran his own engineering firm, W.L. Hamilton Engineering. He designed and built gas processing plants throughout the United States and Southeast Asia. Bill was widely known in the gas processing field and considered to be one of the most knowledgeable and trusted experts in the industry.

From his early childhood, Bill developed a love for the outdoors. He enjoyed deep-sea fishing in the Gulf of Mexico, and big game and bird hunting in South Texas with his family and friends. Once he moved to Wyoming, the traditions continued; he replaced red snapper and large-mouth bass with walleye and trout, white-tailed deer and hogs with elk and moose. It was his priority to pass along these traditions and skills to his sons and grandchildren.

Bill belonged to the United Pentecostal Church in Sheridan, Wyoming for 47 years. He was a very active member of the church and lived God’s word every day of his life.

Bill embraced the title of "grandfather" with pride, always delighting in the accomplishments and growth of his seven grandchildren. He encouraged and supported them in their many interests including sports, fishing, hunting, art, and musical events.

Bill liked working with his hands and had the ability to fix almost anything. He was never afraid to take on uncertain projects, consider new ideas, or figure out how to accomplish what needed to be done. Bill routinely included his sons, and later his grandchildren, in his hobbies and projects. He often allowed them to directly participate for the sake of learning the skills even though it likely meant delays and reworking of the task. Bill was also known to be a carefully objective thinker and was always courageous to decisively follow through once a decision was made.

Bill was preceded in death by his mother Pauline Hamilton and his father James Hamilton Jr. He is survived by his wife Jacquie; sons Brian (Stephanie) Hamilton of Sheridan, Wyoming; Keith (Carrie) Hamilton of Golden, Colorado; and Jeff (Lindsey) Hamilton of Mena, Arkansas; brother James (Donna) Hamilton of Broomfield, Colorado; grandchildren Lauren (Logan), Kaden, Oliver, William, Kellan, Hailey, and Isaac Hamilton; in-laws Bill (Carol) Reyenga of Shreveport, Louisiana; Arthur (Penelope) Webb of Cassville, Missouri; nephew Barry (Shannon) Reyenga, and nieces Leanne (Shawn) Fenton, Jenny (Dave) Ward, Penny Hannify, and Catherine (Fady) Elias.

As we bid farewell to Bill, we also honor and celebrate a life truly well-lived. To pay respects and commemorate his rich life, a service will be held at Bowser Family Funeral Home on September 25th, 2023, at 2:00pm in Mena, Arkansas. The family will be available prior to the service, beginning at 12:30pm, for a visitation. Interment will follow at the Pinecrest Memorial Park in Mena under the direction of Bowser Family Funeral Home. Donations may be given to the charity of your choosing in his memory.

Services will be live streamed here:
https://bowserffh.com/obituaries/william-hamilton-sep-2023