William Sheppard “Billy” Dupree

William Sheppard "Billy" Dupree, born October 1954 in Raleigh, North Carolina, passed away in December 2025 in Harkers Island, North Carolina, the hometown he chose and often described as paradise on earth.

The eldest of three children born to John and Katie Dupree, Billy grew up with a deep respect for history, tradition, and hard work. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, John Manley Dupree. Billy valued the lessons learned as a boy growing up on a farm and believed strongly that work ethic, curiosity, and perseverance were the foundation of a meaningful life. These were values he instilled deeply in his children.

Billy loved his family. He was fiercely proud of his children and found deep joy in watching his grandchildren grow, learn, and develop their own interests and abilities. His love for them was steady through advice freely given, shared laughter, and the pride he took in who they were becoming. The closeness of his children and grandchildren stands as one of his greatest legacies, and his love of family will continue to be honored through the strong bonds they share.

Billy was a lifelong problem solver and master engineer whose passion was not simply understanding how things worked, but also why and how to make them more efficient, functional, and beautiful. His varied careers reflected that curiosity, from landscape and heavy machinery engineering to owning a paint and body shop, where he influenced and inspired his eldest son, William Jason Dupree. He was immensely proud of his son for exceeding him in the trade.

After moving to Harkers Island, Billy's love of sport fishing, custom boats, and engineering converged in the creation of Outerbanks Boat Works. Using no blueprints or formal plans, he brought his original visions to life, crafting distinctive sport fishing vessels recognized not only locally, but also along the Atlantic coast, the Great Lakes, the Caribbean, and beyond.

Billy believed that nothing was impossible and that everything could be figured out. He often reminded his children that if someone else could do something, so could they. His intelligence, wit, humor, and uniquely wise perspective left a lasting impression on everyone he encountered. Whether an interaction was brief or lifelong, Billy was unforgettable. Within close circles, his "Billy-isms" will be retold for generations, cherished just as much for the laughter they brought as for the guidance they offered.

He found joy in flea markets and "junkin'," proudly saying he would rather buy ten scrap cars than one luxury vehicle, delighting in the process of tinkering, fixing, recreating, and improving.

Billy is survived by his wife, Sherry Dupree; his children William Jason Dupree (Jennifer) and their children William, Scotland, and Hudson; Aimee Dupree Williams (Jeremy) and their son Shepard; and William Dane Dupree (Jessica) and their children Kole, Nicolas, and Harper. He is also survived by his sister, Sherri Ann Potts, her husband, Kent, their children, Aaron and Kelly, and their families.

Billy's legacy lives on in the things he built, the problems he solved, and most importantly in the love, closeness, curiosity, and work ethic he passed on to his children and grandchildren