Bill Keith Morrow Sr. passed away on Oct. 18, 2013 at his home in Oak Harbor surrounded by family and friends. He was born on July 22, 1926 in Point Pleasant, W. Va. to James and Mae Morrow.

Bill grew up during the depression and was raised with the help of many family and friends, but spent most of his young years with his Pops and Grandma Morrow.

Like most young men of his era, he joined the Navy on his 17th birthday to support the war effort. He served with VP-2 at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station from 1943 to 1946. Flying support missions up and down the west coast and in the Pacific.

While on a 24-hour pass in 1944, he met Louella Ann Wells in Anacortes, Wash. They would marry and spend 64 years as husband and wife; experiencing the joys and heartaches of a long full life together raising three boys, building a home, running a business and experiencing the stability they never knew as children.

Bill went to work with the civil service on NAS Whidbey in 1946 and worked as a letterer and grainer or what is commonly known as a sign painter until his retirement in 1981. He also owned his own business and painted most every sign on the Island until the early ‘90s. Bill took a two-year break from 1950-1952 as he was called back to Navy service for the Korean Conflict.

Bill was a creative man who loved working with his hands. He loved to paint, draw and carve wood. He built furniture for his family and friends, some of his specialties being roll top desks, grandfather clocks and whatever he found interesting. During his life he designed and built some 50 boats for himself and others as the water was the one place he found his greatest joy. In his later years, he loved buying and selling unique items and trips to the casino to see who he could chat up. He was a colorful character who loved a good four-letter word and liked to complain about things just to keep his blood pressure right. Now he is on his way to join his beloved wife Louella, or Momma as he called her and that’s a fitting ending to any life well lived.

Bill is survived by his sons Bill Jr. and wife Maggie, Ed and Jim Morrow, of Oak Harbor; special niece Sharon Creech and husband Bobby, of Olympia, Wash.; special friends Wendy Morrow, Martha Sylvester and husband Chris, of Coupeville, Wash.; grandsons Justin Morrow, of Seattle; Travis Morrow, of Seattle; Jason Morrow, of Issaquah; Jared Morrow, of Oak Harbor; Jakob Giles, of Oak Harbor and James Barker Oak Harbor; granddaughters Charlene Bergstrom, of Woodland; and Korja Giles, of Olympia; his brother Michael Morrow and many other nieces, nephews and family friends.