William “Bill” Dyer peacefully passed on to join his love April 18, 2014, in Seattle, Wash., after a short illness.

Bill was born in Caledonia, Mich., on May 2, 1926. He was adopted by William Charles Dyer and Nellie I. Stevens and was later raised by his beloved “Aunt Martha.”

He spent his early years in Battle Creek, Mich., then St. John Military School in Chicago, as well as others. His boarding schools always included riding in their programs and Bill became an accomplished equestrian.

Bill and his spouse of 45 years, John Q. Weber, and he lived in Topanga Canyon, Calif., and then in the Malibu hills where they raised sheep and coursed their Scottish Deerhounds in their spare time while both worked, Bill weaved and did upholstery for many of Hollywood’s celebrities and John worked in engineering.

They both cut fine figures in their Austin Healey sports cars, John the quiet one, Bill a ball of fire. John died in December 2005.

Bill was a world class weaver and textile artist. He learned to weave from Mary Snyder, and then became good friends with Anne Blinks.

They attended many weaving conferences together, sometimes with Ann Meerkerk, who was the connection that brought Bill and John to their beautiful Whidbey Island to retire.

Bill shared interests with Anne in historic textiles, both from Peru and from the Scandinavian bog burials. He enjoyed replicating things in obscure techniques, like sprang, braiding and tablet weaving.

Bill was a very fine weaver and wove damask pieces on his Jacquard loom, using his original imagery and Escher-like images with reversing dimensions. He also reproduced designs of the ancient Mimbres tribes of Southwest New Mexico. He used finer yarns than almost any other damask hand weaver.

After Bill sold his loom, he loved being a part of the Braidy Bunch, a braiding group that included Virginia Harvey and other well-respected textile artists. He also was a member of the Whidbey Weaver’s Guild.

Bill is survived by nephews Peter Cronk, of Ventura, Calif., and Bruce Cronk, of Roseburg, Ore., and their families, as well as a slew of really good friends from all over, who loved this “gentle man” and will sorely miss Bill’s ribald humor and sharp wit.

Bill lived his life with integrity and unflinching courage. He excelled at any art he pursued, setting his own standard of excellence. He was an honest, gracious spirit who loved well.

In lieu of flowers, Bill would hope that you will do an unexpected and unsolicited act of kindness for some poor unfortunate soul in his name.

A celebration of Bill Dyer’s life will be announced at a later date.