William Bousfield

William (Bill) Bousfield, age 80, a loving husband and father beloved by many, passed away on May 5, 2023, due to complications from Parkinson’s Disease. He was surrounded by family members and passed away peacefully.

Bill was born 80 years ago, in California, to Shirley and Harold Bousfield, and was the oldest of three boys. He attended high school and college in Los Angeles, then served an LDS mission in Australia for two years. After his mission he attended Brigham Young University, where he met the love of his life, Coreen, whom he married in the Los Angeles LDS Temple. They were happily married for 58 wonderful and fulfilling years. Together, they had five children and lived in Huntington Beach, California, for 30 years, after which he and Coreen moved to American Fork, Utah.

For three decades he worked at a job he loved – selling advertising space – and was very successful, winning multiple awards. He was a devoted member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for his whole life, and held many leadership callings in the church, including bishop of the Huntington Beach 1^st Ward. After retiring, he and Coreen served two missions for the church -- one in Indiana and one in San Francisco.

When not working, he enjoyed doing yard work, building things, reading, walking, traveling, and spending time with his family. He turned their back and front yards in Huntington Beach into beautiful, lush gardens for him and his family to enjoy. Among many other building projects, he added a large room above their garage and helped his son and youngest daughter with many projects at their homes. He loved reading mysteries, but also enjoyed reading many church books, including the Book of Mormon. His favorite place to walk daily was along the walkway next to the beach, often walking all the way to the Huntington Beach pier. His love of traveling included trips to Israel, Canada, Mexico, and many, many fun trips to visit and enjoy their children and grandchildren, who he loved so very much.

We must mention that humor was a big part of who he was and what he enjoyed, and he was talented in turning a word or phrase into something funny and clever. That particular gift seemed to come naturally to him, and he very much liked that he was known as a funny guy. He was a loving, supportive, devoted, and fun-loving husband, father and grandfather, the wonderful patriarch of a family that looked to him for so much. In his later years, with the progression of Parkinson’s Disease, a lot of the things he loved to do were taken away, and he came to know a lot about suffering, but now he is happy again and enjoying time with deceased sons, parents, grandparents, and other happy relatives!

At hearing of his death on social media, many loving and caring messages were sent to his family members, expressing love and admiration for Bill as a friend, bishop, neighbor, relative, leader, and associate. It was really wonderful to learn of so many people who appreciated very much the pleasant, friendly, kind, funny, and warm person that Bill was. We will all miss him more than we can even try and express, and look forward so much to being with him again forever!

Bill is survived by his wife, Coreen; his four children, Virginia (Ben) Herbst,  Brent (Shannon) Bousfield, Cindy (Jerry) Skillicorn, and Betsy Parkes (Jac Chandler); his brother, Richard (Leslie) Bousfield; 13 grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.  Bill was preceded in death by his brother, Ken (Gail) Bousfield, his infant son, Johnny (John William), and a son-in-law, Warren Parkes.

His service will be held at the American Fork 19^th Ward chapel (1305 North 100 East) on Saturday, May 13^th at 11:00, with a viewing from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m.