1933 – 2023

William (Bill) Cornelius Sheehy, Jr. passed to our Heavenly Father on Nov. 1, 2023 at his home in Madisonville. Bill was born in Mobile, AL on December 8, 1933, the eldest son of William Cornelius and Imogene (Manning) Sheehy.

He is preceded in death by his loving wife Shirley (Russell) Sheehy; both parents; his brother Ronald Emmitt Sheehy; and sister Betty (Sheehy) Pope.

Bill is survived by sisters, Patricia (Sheehy) Pope, Carol (Sheehy) Fowler, Gloria (Sheehy) Kent; and brother Victor Sheehy.

He is also survived by his two children and their families: his son William Byron “Butch” Sheehy and his wife Kelly (Green) Sheehy, and their children, son Blake Ryan Sebastian, his wife Jordyn and their children Luca Blake and Rocco Ryan, daughter Reagan Elise Sheehy, and daughter Kendall Brooke Sheehy; and his daughter Sheri (Sheehy) Brown and her husband Charles David Brown, and their children, daughter Chantel Nicole Green and her son Ryder William Green, son Charles William Brown and his wife Katie, son Jesse Russell Brown and Carly Simich and their son, Tate David Brown.

Bill attended Murphy High School in Mobile, AL where he excelled in sports and earned an athletic scholarship for football from Louisiana State University. He attended LSU from 1953-56 until his father passed away. He transferred to Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, LA where Bill met Shirley Byron Russell from Greenwood LA.

They were married on April 25,1959. Bill was drafted by the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL and played in 1959.

He returned to Louisiana and started his career with Riley Beard in Shreveport, LA and then Halliburton in Baton Rouge, LA. At both, he was trained in mechanical engineering and pressure vessel fabrication. In 1970, he moved his family to Houston, where he joined John Curry at Gulfex. They worked as partners starting in 1972 and they built one of the premier pressure vessel fabrication shops in the area. In December of 2000, Bill retired to Madisonville.

Bill’s presence filled the room, he is known for his kind and gentle soul, generous heart, and huge faith. He is described by many as the kind of person a real man should be: strong, quiet and fiercely loyal to his family.

He was passionate about helping others in his community and beyond. Whether it was lending a helping hand to repair equipment, a construction project, or quietly supporting kids and families in need, Bill loved giving.

He raised his children with gentle but firm love, while always supporting and encouraging. He led by example in his faith and lived as God’s witness, a life well lived.

He truly enjoyed his retirement life in Madisonville making many wonderful friends, watching his six angels grow up, attending games, graduations, playing golf, tennis, and of course spending time outside in the sun, or piddling around in his shop.

Bill leaves behind a wonderful family and so many friends who loved him. We all know he is in a better place and reunited with Shirley. We will miss him dearly but are incredibly thankful he was part of our lives. And the best is, we all know he felt the same about us.

Bill’s life will be celebrated 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 10, 2023, at The First Methodist Church in Madisonville with the burial to follow at Madisonville Cemetery. Rev. Jim Jackson will officiate.

Visitation is scheduled from 6-8 p.m.

Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023, at Day Funeral Home Chapel in Madisonville.