Kenneth William "Bill" Giles

Kenneth William "Bill" Giles, 75, passed away Wednesday, May 9, 2018, at Visalia, Calif., surrounded by family. He was born Oct. 20, 1942, to Kenneth and Virginia Giles, in Mohler, Idaho. His family later moved to Nezperce, where he attended school. He graduated from Nezperce High School in 1961.

Bill married Dodie Pyles in 1961. They moved in 1962 to California, where he worked in his Uncle Jim Giles' lumber yard. Their favorite pastime while in the Bay Area was attending 49ers football games and Giants baseball games. They moved back to Nezperce in 1966. They were divorced in 1974.

Bill later married Shelli (Hobson) Barker on Oct. 5, 1974. They lived in Nezperce until January 1981, when they moved their family of five to Visalia. It wasn't long after they became a family of six.

Through his life, Bill had two homes, both Idaho and California. A constant in both locations was his love of farming, sports, family and friends. He spent most of his working years around agriculture in both places. Much of that time was spent helping to build a successful crop-dusting and custom farming company. There are many young men who have fond memories of working with him over the years. His confidence, enthusiasm and jovial nature were contagious. Some parents are hesitant to let their children drive the family car, but Bill would throw his into $100,000 harvesters and let them figure it out.

Bill loved both playing and watching sports. He was a natural athlete, playing basketball, football and baseball in high school. After school, he spent many years playing recreational sports, including softball and soccer. It was in these leagues where he made many lifelong friends. With them he discovered that he enjoyed watching and supporting his kids and grandkids from the sidelines. Often "coaching from sidelines," with little regard of whether the coaches wanted it or not. I often thought he was coaching the coaches, too.

It was obvious from all of those who knew Bill that friends and family were the most important things to him. He would do anything for them, whether it was chasing cattle, pulling calves, helping farm, lamb feeds, the west side agriculture tourney, or just sitting around reciting family trees. When it came to who's who and who owned which 80 acres, he had a mind for it and it seemed like he never forgot anybody's name. He was always up for a card game, a cup of coffee or a dance. Now, when a new game starts, we pour a cup or a certain song plays, we will be thinking of him. The number of lives he touched and influenced over the years are too many to count, and he will be missed terribly by all.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Kenneth and Virginia Giles, and his brother, Dennis Giles. He is survived by his wife, Shelli; his son and daughter-in-law, Shane and Annette Giles of Eagle, Idaho; son Jason Giles and Kim Sterling of Nezperce; daughter Stacey Giles and Doug Watson of Visalia; son Damien Giles and Cassie Jo Epeldi of Nezperce; grandchildren Nichele, Jaysa and Kaden of Nezperce, Courtney of San Francisco, Addyson, Sophia and Pace of Eagle, and Taylor and Kallista of Visalia; four sisters, Beverley Harding of Nezperce, Barbi Vaughn and Judi Sattler of Lewiston, and Janet Richardson of Cottonwood; and many loving nieces, nephews and cousins.

The funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the Nezperce Christian Church in Nezperce. A lunch and reception will directly follow the service at the Nezperce Legion Hall.

Bill will be laid to rest later at Lewis-Clark Memorial Gardens.