Willard H. Shillington (Bill) died peacefully in his sleep on Dec. 11, 2007, at the age of 94, in the Rosetta Assisted Living Home in Burley.
He was born in Rupert, Idaho, on Jan. 28, 1913, to Guy and Jesse Shillington. His father, Guy, was one of the original surveyors for the town site of Rupert, and had homesteaded a farm on the site, which is now the Minidoka County Fairgrounds. Bill graduated from Rupert High School in 1931. He attended Idaho State University in Pocatello (then a two-year college) and the University of Idaho in Moscow, where he majored in agricultural economics. He married Edith Della Thomas, also from Rupert, on May 4, 1939.
Bill was involved in agricultural business. Over the years, he had several potato farms and cattle ranches in Minidoka, Cassia and Blaine counties. On one of the farms, he created a large pond, which attracted a wide variety of migrating birds. As a founding member of the Idaho Audubon Society, Bill was an avid birdwatcher. For many years, he was known as Idaho's "birdman." He participated in over 70 Audubon Christmas bird counts, and donated extensive bird egg collections to Idaho State University and the Minidoka County Historical Museum.
Bill spent many years fishing, hunting, camping and bird watching in the mountains around Ketchum. He would tell stories of seeing so many spawning salmon in the tributaries near Stanley that one could "cross streams on the backs of salmon." He also remembered tying logs to the backs of vehicles to slow their descent while driving Galena Summit. Bill and Edith loved visiting the Wood River Valley, and eventually bought a cabin on the Big Wood River in Ketchum in 1956.
During the winter months, Bill and Edith would often go to Mexico where Bill would continue his love of bird watching, fishing and gardening.
Bill was a charter member of the Rupert Elks Club and assisted in landscaping the golf course. He was very supportive of the Rupert Senior Center, and enjoyed helping it with various projects. He was known as the gentleman who would bring flowers and cheers to many geriatric patients.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Edith; two children, Fayre Shillington (Rene) and Karin Davies (John); two grandchildren, Jessica Clifford (Mark) and Lillian Davies; one great-grandson, Caden Clifford of Ketchum; and one brother, Warren Shillington (Sally) of Twin Falls.
The family would like to thank the loving staff at Rosetta in Burley, and Peggy Grant of Twin Falls, who were so very kind to Bill in his final days.
