Billy Guyer

Billy Eugene Guyer was born in Friona Texas on December 27, 1929 to William Hadley and Geneva Marie Guyer. As a child, he moved frequently. His father worked road construction during the depression in Colorado, New Mexico, and Washington State. Billy grew up with his younger brother Freddie, a good dog named Tex, and a pet chicken that rode on the handlebars of his bicycle. His family settled in Cheney, WA in 1944 operating a dairy farm. Billy attended 22 different school districts and graduated from Cheney High School in 1948. He attended Eastern Washington University just long enough to say he went. Billy joined the Navy in June 1948 and became a sailor. However, he never got a tattoo and only the cows heard him swear. He was called to active duty in May 1952 and received an honorable discharge in June 1954. His advice was: “Make friends with the cook and you’ll never go hungry.” In the spring of 1950 he met his future wife and love of his life, Mary Ann Pruden. They were wed in a simple ceremony in Prosser, WA on April 30, 1954. Billy and Mary Ann settled in Sunnyside, WA. Soon, he became “Daddy” and specialized in raising three girls; Jean, Mary and Susan. Daddy adored his daughters and they loved him. Billy and his father ran a dairy farm; milking 100 head of cows daily and putting up 100 acres of alfalfa. When farming took a downturn, he worked for Bleyhls feed store. He retired, but that didn’t sit well with him. So, at age 64, he began a new career driving a school bus for the next 22 years. Mary Ann wanted a nice place to eat, so Billy joined the Elks. When asked what BPOE meant he replied, “It stands for the Best People on Earth”. Daddy was an active member of the following Fraternities: Odd Fellows, Eagles, American Legion, Elks Lodge, Masonic Lodge, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Grange. Daddy had a way of making people feel special. He was always quick with a joke or a story, but would listen to another’s joys or problems as if he had all the time in the world and nothing were more important. He taught youngsters to take life lightly playing “Tickle Knees” during truck rides. He taught patience on those pick-up rides, too offering passengers each a Jordan almond. They would get another one when he finished his. Yours were gone in a flash, but he could suck on that almond all day, long after the candy was gone. Billy was a man of strong character, great integrity, and quiet strength. He rode tall in the saddle and took care of things that needed taking care of, without complaint. He would break out in a sweat just thinking about work, but he worked from before sun-up ‘til after sun-down. With the births of his grandchildren and great grandchildren, Daddy proudly became known as “Papa”. Spoiling became his new role. Being the best grandfather seemed to come naturally to him. He passed along unconditional love, words of wisdom, acts of kindness, and honesty. He related stories of his childhood and growing up to new sets of eager ears. The important lessons that last into adulthood were shared. When Billy was raising his family, his rose garden was a thing of beauty that he tended to lovingly. He enjoyed leather work and made gifts of purses, wallets, key fobs, coasters, etc. In his later years you could find him pounding leather most days. Billy left behind the following family: his brother: Freddie Richard Guyer (wife Alice) and numerous nephews and nieces. Three children: Jean Ann Guyer, Mary Marie Kencayd (husband Curt), and Susan Lynn Riggs. Five grandchildren and sixteen great-grandchildren:
Grandchild; Stephanie Shopbell (husband Travis), great grandchildren Amelia and Clarissa. 
Grandchild; Nicholas Brown (wife Nikki), great grandchildren Cayden, Memphis and Titus. Grandchild; Anthony Brown (partner Marugenia), great grandchildren Roxanne, Meddow and Alondra.
Grandchild; Chavon McKenzie (partner Jason), great grandchildren Holly, Marion, Jasper, Ethan and Jayden.
Grandchild; Billy Berard (wife Veronica), great grandchildren Anterri, Lil Billy and Ricky. One of Dad’s favorite sayings was; “I’m going to live until I die”. Days after celebrating his 90th birthday, he went to join Mama. Billy Eugene Guyer, December 27, 1929 – January 4, 2020. What mattered most was the dash between the years. The dash represents all the life that was lived and Billy truly lived the dash in between. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Billy Guyer, please visit our flower store.