William Paul "Bill" Fox

      William Paul "Bill" Fox, age 82, of St. Johns, MI, peacefully passed away surrounded by the love of his family, on Sunday, August 13, 2023, at Sparrow Hospital, Lansing, MI.

     A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church, St. Johns, MI, at 11:00 A.M. on Friday, August 18, 2023, with Rev. Fr. Michael Williams presiding.  Burial will take place at Mt. Rest Cemetery, St. Johns, MI.  Visitation will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes – Osgood Chapel, St. Johns, MI, on Thursday, August 17, 2023, from 2:00-8:00 P.M. and one hour prior to Mass at the church.

     Bill was born in St. Johns, Michigan on February 15, 1941, the son of Paul Francis and Helen Josephine (Epkey) Fox.  He graduated from Fowler High School with the class of 1959, and earned a Bachelors' Degree in Social Work from Michigan State University.  Bill worked for the State of Michigan for thirty-four years. After retiring in 1997, he enjoyed working for Simons Builders in Fowler.  On September 15, 1962, Bill married Judith Mary Dieter at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Fowler. They were blessed with nearly sixty-one years of marriage.

     Bill enjoyed hunting and fishing. He was very talented and always had several projects to work on. Growing up on the family farm, he developed a lifelong love for nature. Bill's grandchildren meant the world to him; he was known to have many late night texts with them.

     He is survived by his wife Judy, four children: Douglas Fox of St. Johns, MI; Denise (Scott) Bates of Merritt, MI; Deanne (Scott) Purtill of St. Johns, MI; and Steven (Rachel) Fox of St. Johns; eleven grandchildren: Allie (Brandon) VanDriel, Trevor Bates, Kyle (Kaylyn) Bates, Jarod Bates, Clay (Taylor Warnaar) Purtill, Luke (Jessica Heyer) Purtill, Riley Purtill, Brady Purtill, Taylor Fox, Kendall Fox, and Mason Fox; and three great-grandchildren: Aidric, Lennon, and Holland.  He is also survived by his siblings: Dan Fox, Jane (Steven) Nobis, Susan (Ralph) Pung, and Mary Lou (Alan) Harr; his sister-in-law Marie Cooper, and many nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents, his grandson Justin Fox, his sister-in-law Theresa (Robert) Hefty, and his brother-in-law Larry Cooper.

     Memorials may be made to St. Joseph Catholic School. Online condolences may be made at www.smithfamilyfuneralhomes.com. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes - Osgood Chapel, St. Johns, Michigan.