William Joseph Boyer ~ Murphysboro February 3, 2018

MURPHYSBORO — William Joseph Boyer Jr., 69, son of William Joseph Boyer Sr. and Billie Gale (Minor) Pobanz, passed away on Feb. 3, 2018, at his home in Murphysboro, after a short but fierce battle with pancreatic cancer. Bill is survived by his wife of 30 years, Diann (Basler) Boyer; and four children, William (Dianna) Raymond Boyer of Mount Vernon, Laura (Leo) Valdespino of Duluth, Georgia, Jennifer (Jay) Gentiles of Mill Shoals, and Bobbi Boyer of Carbondale. He is also survived by his two brothers, Dennis (Patty) Boyer of Pompano Beach, Florida, and Sam Boyer of Denver, Colorado; and four grandchildren, Olivia Boyer, Callie Gentiles, Isa Valdespino and Vivien Valdespino. Bill is further survived by many beloved nieces and nephews. Bill’s parents predeceased him. Bill joined the U.S. Navy as a young lad of 17 and proudly served his country. He attended Eastern Illinois University as an undergraduate and Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, for graduate school, studying psychology. He loved helping people and worked helping the developmentally disabled in Southern Illinois for many years. Bill was also involved in the coffee business for many years and was fondly known as Mr. B, the coffee man. Bill was an avid golfer and very proud of scoring an ace at Crab Orchard Golf Club on July 14, 1987. He loved golf and became a club maker for a period of time. Bill was also a proud Mason and Shriner. Bill trusted in the Lord early in life and was a lifelong member of the First Baptist Church in McLeansboro. He will be greatly missed by his family and many friends. Services will be at noon Friday, Feb. 9, in Walker Funeral Home in Carbondale. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. noon Friday at the funeral home. Interment and Military rites will be in Oddfellows Cemetery in McLeansboro. Memorials may be made to the National Pancreatic Cancer Foundation, P.O. Box 1848, Longmont, CO 80502.