William "Bill" Marsac

On Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016, William "Bill" Marsac reached the end of a long and adventurous life here with us on earth. Bill was born in Lake Orion, Michigan, to Willard and Mary Savage Marsac. He grew up there on the shore of Long Lake where outdoor adventures were part of growing up and would define how he would live his life.

He graduated from Lake Orion High School in 1952. In 1955 he married Audrey Lee Powers, also from Lake Orion. Bill served in the United States Army from 1955 to 1957.

In 1970, Bill remarried with Barbara Gorsky Isola and in 1977 moved to Missoula. He was active in the National Ski Patrol in Michigan and continued being a ski patroller in Montana at Marshall Ski Area and Snowbowl.

Bill enjoyed hunting and fishing and was very successful at both. He was very steady with a rifle and patient with a fishing rod. Rising early to fish or hunt was not a problem. Work however would occasionally require his wife Barb's snowballs to roust him from his slumbers in the winter.

Bill worked for the phone company; first Michigan Bell, then Mountain Bell that became US West spanning a 40 year career. Most of his time was spent splicing phone lines, working outdoors. He never complained about the harsh weather conditions but spoke more factually how the cold, snow, rain, wind affected their ability to accomplish their work. He took pride in the quality of his work and the quality of his life.

He and his wife Barbara loved Montana and adapted their life philosophies to be consistent with the Montana spirit. They shared their beautiful home up Grant Creek at the base of Snowbowl Road over the years with their children and friends. This long chapter of his life up Grant Creek with Barb was his most cherished. Bill did so many great Montana activities during these decades that most men can only dream of doing.

Bill is preceded in death by his first wife Audrey (2006) and Barbara in 2005. He is survived by his sister Marie Carter; daughter Leslie Marsac Walters; sons, Steve and John; stepdaughters, Rachel Isola and Amy Escene; grandchildren, Jessica, Brandon, Mackenzie, Devon, Olivia, Jake, Tayler, Katelyn and Megan.

Bill and Barb supported the efforts of the Humane Society of Western Montana, (406)-549-3934. In lieu of flowers; the family requests donations be made to this society.

A memorial service is planned for Saturday, March 19, 10 a.m. at Garden City Funeral Home, Missoula.


Read William 'Bill' Marsac's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.