William R. "Bill" Faurot

(This obituary was written with love by his sister Tracey)

William (Bill) Robert Faurot, beloved son, brother, uncle and friend to everyone he met, passed away too soon on December 19, 2019. In his final hours he was surrounded by so much love and emotion I know he knew we were there.

He was born in Marshall MI at Oaklawn hospital on April 30, 1971 to Nancy (Smith) and Dennis Faurot. Mom always said I was lucky I was born first or I wouldn’t be here. He always said she saved the best for last.

He grew up in Marshall until 5th grade and then moved to Tekonsha.   He was quiet and shy in school but was he ever smart!   He had a photographic memory like none I’ve ever known and graduated with honors. I once called him up in the middle of the night asking him about a song with rainbows and waterfalls. He hushed me and a few seconds later told me the name of the band, what cd it was on and the track number. He never ceased to amaze me.

He went to DeVry College in Chicago for 2 years and moved back home to help take care of my dad who passed away from cancer. Dad made him promise to take care of us, and that’s exactly what he did,  becoming the man of the house after dad’s passing.   My dad would be very proud of all he had accomplished and the man he became. He was a color matcher for Clariant in Albion for 25 years. He went from quiet and shy to outgoing and a stranger was just a friend he hadn’t met yet.

He had a love for so many things. There was not a computer he could not hack or fix. He had enough music on his computer to play 24/7 for over a year without playing repeats. There wasn’t any kind of music he did not listen too. He enjoyed reading or listening to audio books while doing projects of any kind. If he didn’t know how to fix something, YouTube, or books taught him. He was always game for a bonfire, Heineken, and storytelling. Even if I had heard the same story twenty times, he could still make you laugh.

When he was into paintball, he used to come home with the biggest welts and bruises. He let me shoot him once to see how fast it would welt up. Not many people would let you do that. He  loved to shoot guns, and was extremely accurate.      He was an avid hunter until I started hunting and kept him busy cleaning mine.

His Harley was his pride and joy. He went on many bike trips and joy rides. He would come home late December with icicles in his beard and hair just giving me that look of “What.” He was a die hard. He enjoyed hanging with friends, his girls, and at the club. He loved to cook venison and fudge for everyone because he knew we all looked forward to this. He made these with love.

Bill had a passion for ink. He researched a long time before his addiction started.   His tattoo artist was not just his tattoo artist, she became a really good friend.   I’d love to know the dollars and hours he has spent on his body. We have had many animals, most of them dumb. But our lab Digger was his dog. She started out as a family dog but when Bill was around she was closer than a shadow to him. The last couple years he went to Cancun with friends and developed a love for tequila.

I have intentionally not mentioned names because he loved so many people in so many different ways. You all know who you are and what you meant to him. He was known as a son, a brother, a best friend, uncle, uncle buck, friend, bouncer, little bill, Billy and a teddy bear to most. To me he was my hero. He gave the best hugs and you always felt loved and safe when in one.

He didn’t tell me he loved me often, but I always knew. I never had to want for anything, worry about anything because he always had my back. I was spoiled. I mean really how many brothers buy their sister a motorcycle, let alone 3 of them.

He lived every day to the fullest with no regrets. We can’t imagine living in this world without him but we will do our best to always make him proud. Someday we will see you again.

Love, T.

Bill had a love for children especially those suffering with cancer.  His family would prefer that those who wish to honor Bill’s memory, please donate in his memory to The University of Chicago Medicine Comers Children’s Hospital in Chicago https://www.uchicagomedicine.org/comer/give or to remember Bill’s other special love for all our veterans by giving to the Gary Sinise Foundation https://www.uchicagomedicine.org/comer/give.  Donate online or assistance is available at Kempf Family Funeral and Cremation Services.

He was preceded in death by our dad Dennis Willie Faurot. He is survived by our mom and best friend Nancy Elaine Faurot. Sisters Tracey Faurot, Amy Faurot Campbell and Kim Faurot, nephews Collin and Bryant Miller, Dennis Green, Ryan Faurot and Joel Burwick, niece Brittany Faurot and Nichol Buntin. 2 great nephews and 3 great nieces.

A memorial service will be held for Bill at the Marshall Chapel of Kempf Family Funeral & Cremation Services, 723 US HWY 27 N. on Saturday, January 11, 2020 at 2PM.  A gathering of friends and family with a light luncheon will be held immediately afterwards at the Kempf’s Reception Hall at the funeral home.    https://kempffuneralhome.com