Obituary

Billy Vance Roady

October 17, 1947 – November 18, 2023

Following a lengthy illness, Billy Vance “Bill” Roady died in Basin, Wyoming on November 18, 2023.

Bill was born October 17, 1947 in Tulare, California to Howard Wilson and Mildred Ozell (Wells) Roady.

He was raised in Tulare and graduated from Visalia High School in 1964. At the age of 4 Bill contracted polio which localized in his left leg. He spent many months at the Shriners Children's Hospital, having multiple surgeries and therapy to help him regain use of his leg. Following high school Bill had a brief stint with college and then began driving truck for Acme Transportation. He moved to Colusa, California where his brother, Larry, and his family lived.

At the age of 21, Bill was in a vehicle accident and lost his left leg, but that did not slow him down at all. While mending, Bill came to Wyoming to go hunting. He met the guide’s daughter, Marla Tolman, and after returning to California they were married. Vance William was born in Colusa. Bill started a backhoe business and the three moved to Casper, Wyoming where he continued to perform backhoe work. He later worked in real estate. Cameron Kirk was born in Casper. The family relocated to Worland, Marla’s hometown. It was here that his last son, Justin Howard was born. Bill and Marla were later divorced.

Bill continued in the real estate field, eventually becoming a real estate appraiser. In 1989 Bill married Valerie Gammill in Basin. He moved to Basin and became a “9er!” Bill ran his appraisal business out of his “shop”, retiring in 2017.

Bill was a lover of Harley Motorcycles. He inherited his brother’s Harley and loved cruising the countryside on his Heritage Softail. He, also loved trapshooting, being very active in the Basin/Greybull gun club. He was extremely proud of winning the Wyoming State Handicap Trap Shooting Contest in 1997. Following retirement in 2017, Val and Bill became snowbirds, spending winters in their motorhome at Ben Avery Gun Club in Phoenix, Arizona. They made numerous friends and enjoyed shooting sporting clays.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Joanne; brother, Larry and sons, Vance and Justin. Survivors include his wife, Val, son, Cameron (Jill), sister-in-law Jaki Roady, grandchildren: Jade, Gavin, Paige, Mason, Sydnee, Brynlee, Maclee, Syler, Addie and great-grandsons Branson and Casey. A celebration of life will be held 2:00 PM, Friday, December 1, 2023 at the Elks Lodge in Worland. Memorial donations may be made to Shriners Children’s Hospital and sent to PO Box 524, Worland, WY 82401. Online condolences may be made at www.bryantfuneralhomeonline.com.