BEAVER MEADOW – William P. McKissick Sr., 76, of Beaver Meadow, passed away early Monday morning, Feb. 13, 2012, at his home, following a brief illness.
Born in Fultonham in October of 1935, Bill was the son of Robert and Nellie Yetter McKissick. He attended the local one-room school, but began his working career at the tender age of 14 when he went to work on a farm. Farming was a large part of Bill’s life. In the 1950s he purchased his first farm “up on the hill” in Schoharie, and always had cows everywhere he lived. Concurrently with the farm, however, Bill had a second career. At an early age, he began driving school bus for the Schoharie school system, and this expanded over his years to include working for GLF (Agway) and driving tractor trailers all over the country. Bill and his family moved to the Beaver Meadow area in the mid-1980s, where he continued both farming and driving. His last employment, which he continued well into 2011, was as a driver for Head Start. He thoroughly enjoyed the little kids, who loved referring to him as “Grandpa.” A pleasant man who had a bit of a stubborn streak, Bill was still easy to get along with and was often called “dad” or “gramps” by many who knew him.
On Sept. 13, 1980, Bill married Carolyn Adams, who predeceased him. He was also predeceased by his first wife, Frances McKissick; and his sister and brother, Abigail Hyer and Robert McKissick. Bill is survived by his children and their spouses:  William and Cathy McKissick Jr. of Castleton, Gertrude and Larry Young of Canastota, and Abigail Cortez of Beaver Meadow; Martin and Josie Eberhardt of Virginia, Kim Hill of Solon, and Tammy and Michael Briner of California. Also surviving are Bill’s foster children:  Dolores O’Dell, Connie Kern, Diane Kouzan, and Angie Tischler; many grandchildren and great grandchildren, and nieces and nephews.
Funeral services for Bill will be held at 4 p.m. on Saturday from the R.J. Fahy Funeral Home. The Rev. Mitch Mullenax, pastor of the Church at Beaver Meadow, will officiate. Interment will be at a later date at the convenience of Bill’s family. Friends are invited to call at the R.J. Fahy Funeral Home on Saturday from 2 to 4 p.m.
Please consider memorial contributions to Hospice and Palliative Care of Chenango County, 21 Hayes St., Norwich, NY 13815.