William F. Westcott (88) of Madera passed away unexpectedly on Sunday August 2, 2020; he was just short of 89 years old. He was born, raised, worked, married, raised his family, and died in Madera. Known as “Billy” in his youth and “Bill” throughout most of his adult life, he was born in Madera in the beginnings of the Great Depression on September 2, 1931. Bill was the middle child of the late Francis Dana Westcott, of Boston, and Bonnie Christina (Silkwood) Westcott of San Fernando CA, brother to the late Marius Westcott of Union City CA, and brother to his surviving sister Bonnie Anita (Westcott) Holiday of Madera. Bill’s loving wife of 62 years, Myrna, proceeded him in death on March 19, 2017.

Bill’s parents and brother moved from Los Angeles to Madera in 1929 with several trucks to haul lumber for the Madera Sugar Pine Lumber Company (and grain). The lumber company dissolved in 1931 due to the Great Depression, but his dad continued with the truck hauling, adding house moving and then into the construction business. Bill attended Pershing Elementary, Lincoln Grammar School and Madera Union High School, graduating in 1949. He worked full time for the California Army National Guard, both in Alameda & Sacramento. He left as a Regimental Sergeant Major, transferred back to the Madera National Guard unit, and started college at Fresno State College (now CSUF) in 1952.

In January 1955, he married Myrna Mae Morgan of Fresno. She worked behind the snack bar (and the glass ticket booth) in 1953 at the Madera Theater, her father was the projectionist, and dad was the Assistant Manager and Doorman allowing him to pay his way thru college. He graduated with a BS in Accounting with “Highest Honors” in June of 1956, had his first child in November of that year, passed his CPA exam in 1957, and then worked for a CPA firm in Fresno. In 1959, he became “Assistant Auditor Controller of Madera County” until his retirement in Sept of 1989. He also worked at his father’s companies, Hurst Studio, and Sherman Ranch.

Bill attended the Madera Methodist Church as a young lad, was baptized there at the same time as his infant first born, was a member for the rest of his life and served in numerous church committees. He was a Cub Scout, a Boy Scout, an Air Scout, an Assistant Scoutmaster, and then when his sons started scouting, an Assistant Cub Scoutmaster, Assistant Scoutmaster, and Scoutmaster for 10 years at Troop 116, Charter Rep, and finally with the Council Advancement Committee where he helped a couple hundred young lads to become an Eagle Scout. He was a long time Lions member, in both the Madera Noon and the Madera Evening Club, where he was Treasurer for most of that time. He was a member of several professional groups, a volunteer coach, a volunteer to just about everything, and received numerous awards and honors throughout his life.

Bill loved his family, his volunteering, traveled everywhere, his coin and stamp collections, socializing, his “accounting’ ledgers, along with his garden and pets.

He is survived by his son William “Len” of Auburn, WA, his son Matt of Madera, and his son Brent of Tacoma, WA. Also surviving are 5 grandchildren, Major William Westcott Jr (USSF) of Colorado Springs CO, Christopher Westcott of Beaverton OR, Kimberly Wadagnolo of Bothell WA, Andrew Westcott and Haley Kriss of Madera, and Paige Westcott of Pismo Beach CA. He is also survived by 13 great grandchildren; Melodi, Erica, William, James, and Alexander Westcott of CO, Theo and Judah Westcott of OR, Zander and Arya Wadagnolo of WA, Izabel Gonzalez-Kyriss and Sterling Kyriss of Madera, Nova and Jameson Westcott of Madera, along with numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Visitation will be held at Jay Chapel on Sunday August 16, 2020 from 2:00 PM-6:00 PM. (up to 10 people will be allowed into the building at a time). A graveside service will follow on Monday, August 17th, at 10:00 at Arbor Vitae Cemetery in Madera.