William Allen Sease

1955 - 2024

William Allen Sease

September 30, 1955 - May 20, 2024

Bluffton, South Carolina - Bill Sease was born in Barnwell, South Carolina to Eugene and Ruby Sease. Gene and Ruby moved their young family from Barnwell to Hilton Head in 1957 for Gene's job to help Palmetto Electric bring power to the secluded island - just a year after the first bridge from the mainland was constructed. Bill attended schools in Savannah and Bluffton and was proud to be a part of history during the desegregation of public schools in the 1960s. He grew up hunting and fishing in the wild paradise that Hilton Head was in those days. He took a job as a lineman with Palmetto Electric himself when he was still a teenager. Following that was a series of varied and rewarding jobs as a carpenter, boat builder, charter boat captain, and artist. He had several businesses of his own: providing millwork to home builders, a fine arts foundry, an art gallery, and a dock building company. He was truly a jack of all trades, inspired by numerous master crafts people he knew and admired.

Bill met Murray Dean when they were teenagers and they married in 1982. They crossed the bridge from Hilton Head and built their own home together just outside Bluffton. Bill was known locally as one who could build or fix almost anything - including the 40 foot steel barge that he used to transport pilings and equipment for the docks and seawalls he built and repaired. After selling that last business and retiring, Bill found another love in gardening and building frames for his appreciative artist wife.

Bill made many close friends over the years. He had wonderful adventures fishing and partying and always had a compelling project to work on. He had a true interest in history, especially of our local area, and as an adult took several history and archaeology courses at USCB. He was an active member of the Bluffton Historical Preservation Society for a few years.

Bill was predeceased by his mother and father and his older brother Stephen. He is survived by his sister Donna, brother David, nephew and niece-in-law Joe and Jamie, wife Murray, and son William - his pride and joy. He is also survived by a loving aunt and cousins and many in-laws. Missing him as well are his two beloved dogs and his favorite grand-dog Green Bean.

A celebration of Bill's life will be held at a later date. Donations may be made to Palmetto Animal League in honor of Bill's 'Five Dollar Special' dog Albert, or the Jasper Animal Rescue Mission.