William Alward

William "Billy" Lee Alward, 46, of Ellsworth passed away Friday, December 2, 2016 at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City.

Billy was born June 19, 1970 in Traverse City, the son of William "Bill" M. and Sandy L. Alward. Billy grew up in Ellsworth and attended Ellsworth Community School. After graduation Billy attended Grand Rapids Community College.

On September 30, 1995, he married Dulcie Gee in Ellsworth where they made their home.

Billy worked as a carpenter for Sommerset Pointe. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, sports, had a love for baseball, farming and family. He especially enjoyed Alaskan trips.

Surviving are his wife Dulcie; children Tucker Alward and Layken Alward; mother Sandy Alward; grandfather Harold (Eleanor) Jansen; sister Amy (Kevin) Russell; mother-in-law Loretta (Gary) Goetzman; brothers-in-law Don (Evie) Snyder and Steve (Jeanne) Snyder; sisters-in-law Sarah (Bryan) Lebedevitch and Sheila (Sami) Fevaleaki; many nieces and nephews as well as friends. Billy was preceded in death by his father Bill Alward.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 6, at Hastings Funeral Home in Ellsworth. The funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 7 at the Ellsworth Christian Reformed Church with the Rev. Alex Snider officiating. Private burial will be in Ellsworth Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests contributions to the Alward family c/o Charlevoix State Bank or by donating blood to the American Red Cross.

The family was served by Hastings Funeral Home in Ellsworth, online at www.hastingsfuneral.com.