William Joseph Hosick

William Joseph "Billy" Hosick A peaceful and kind soul has left us much too soon. William Joseph "Billy" Hosick was born April 30, 1955 and unexpectedly left us on June 17, 2013. Billy was born in Chico, California, spending much of his childhood moving up and down the state. In his early days, he devoted countless hours learning to play pool. He became a superb pool player even beating the women's champion at the age of nine. With his acquired stature, he was asked to present the governor of Nevada with a special pool table. We relish the stories from his buddies telling tales about how this skill came in handy later in life when they needed some extra cash. Billy and buds would venture into local pool halls to "clean house" as they say. In high school, Billy learned he had a passion and skill for jewelry making. When he got out of school he worked for Campbell's Soup by day and took gem and jewelry classes at night. With a good friend he opened a Jewelry and Leather shop, but soon found out it was tough starting your own business, especially when it came time to pay all the bills and yourself. After his hand at proprietorship, Billy found a job with Skalet Family Jewelers in Old Town Sacramento, and spent over a decade working for the family crafting his skills. Billy received great pleasure designing original jewelry and truly loved the unveiling, knowing that his work would be appreciated for a lifetime. He was a humble man, but reveled when potential customers asked for him by name. In the early 90's Billy met the love of his life, Marilyn Hutton, while in Humboldt County on a fishing trip. They spent many years commuting back and forth between Sacramento and Humboldt to be together. Billy loved the rural outdoor activities Humboldt provided and when an opening came up at Graystone Jewelers, he jumped at it and moved from Sacramento. Billy and Marilyn later made their home in the local mountains where they were truly happy, planning to spend the rest of their lives together gardening, horseback riding, fishing, hunting, and caretaking the ranch. Billy was a genuine artist. No matter what he touched: metals, leather, beads, even plants and trees became works of art under his care. He was also an avid horseman who loved riding and caring for his horses. Under the watchful eye and guidance of his close friend Mary Guynup, he was learning the fine nuisances of traditional vaquero riding and training. He enjoyed guns and shooting black powder, loading his own bullets, and being a Range Master for a local gun range. In the words of his brother-in-law John, "Billy was a true renaissance man who should have been born in an era when things were handmade with quality and love." Billy was loved by all who knew him because of his calm, good-natured, peaceful ways. His grandchildren, who called him "Papa Billy", will forever remember him. His grandson loved the little knick-knacks that he made for him, and his granddaughter shared a peaceful artistic soul with him. They loved when their Papa Billy accompanied them on field trips, came to special events at school, or watched the many dance studio performances. Billy was preceded in death by his beloved nephew Nathan Joseph Abbit. He is survived by his sisters Jonell (John) Johnsen, Belva Jean Johnson, and Kelly Francine Hosick-Matthews; his nieces Kristy Jo Herr, Jamie Lee Matthews, and Morgan Taylor Johnson; nephew James Clayton Matthews; his favorite aunt Geraldine D. Correa and uncle Joseph Correa; his stepchildren Dawn (Vic) Thrush, Denny Thrush, and Dianna (Jason) Butcher; grandchildren Tia Thrush, Devin and Austin Butcher, as well as his great-grandson Treagan Crowe. You are gone from this earth, we will miss you, but you will never be gone from our hearts. We love you. A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, August 3, 2013 at 1 PM at 15773 Maple Creek Road, Maple Creek, CA. Please sign the guestbook at www.times-standard.com, click on obits.