Bill Morrisette, who lived a full life dedicated to family, education, and public service, died peacefully at the age of 93 on April 15, 2025. He was born and raised in Anaconda, Montana, to William and Genevieve (Martell) Morrisette, on October 18, 1931. He was the youngest of six children, with five older sisters: Eva, Alice, Alveda, Anna and Genevieve.
In high school, Bill attended Boys’ State (1949) and first got a taste for public life. The same year, Bill was named student/athlete of the year at St. Peter’s High School. He was the only student in the history of the school to earn letters in football, basketball, baseball and track.
Bill graduated from Carroll College in Helena, Montana, in 1953. He played football for legendary coach John Gagliardi, while earning his degree in Economics and Political Science. In early 1951, Bill and Janice met on a blind date, and he claims he proposed three days later. She recalls that he was late picking her up and “he didn’t make a good first impression.” They married six months later, and their first child Pamela arrived within a year. Their second child Mary was born prematurely and died in 1953.
Bill and Janice moved to Portland in 1954, adding Chris, Lauri, Mark and Melissa to their family, to Eugene in 1960, adding Michael, and to Springfield in 1962 where twins Claire and Vincent were born prematurely and died. Garth and Keira were born in 1964 and 1965. With their family complete, Bill began teaching at Hamlin Jr. High before moving to Springfield High School in 1966 to teach government and social studies. In 1967, Bill got his master’s in education from the University of Oregon.
Although his first several attempts to run for public office ended in defeat, Bill was undeterred. In 1986 Bill ran for Springfield City Council and eked out his first win. In 1988, Bill threw caution to the wind and ran for mayor, winning an upset victory against the incumbent mayor. He retired from teaching in 1989 and devoted himself to being a fulltime (unpaid) mayor, winning two more re-elections and serving until 1999.
Bill’s mayoral accomplishments included: co-founder of Springfield-Eugene Habitat for Humanity; co-founder of Filbert Festival with his wife Janice; work on the Springfield Sports Center; founder of the Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast; co-founder of Springfield Community Band; founder of Project Starfish (“Break the cycle of homelessness one family at a time”); and board member of Emerald Art Association. Bill was also known for his “ugly” ties.
In 1999, Bill was elected State Representative for District 42 and served two terms. In 2003, he was elected to the Oregon State Senate representing District 6. He was re-elected in 2006 and served until 2010. Bill was proud of his legislative accomplishments in the areas of concussion protocols for high school sports, the tsunami warning system on the Oregon Coast, and prescription drug reform.
Bill Morrisette retired from the State Senate in 2010 to become primary caregiver for his wife Janice, who died in 2013. After Janice’s death, Bill spent time working in his garden, taking care of his roses and dahlias, and spending time with family, friends and his companion Daryl Annette Swan. Bill moved into assisted living in Eugene in 2020 and then to Portland in 2022 where he lived out his life.
Bill had a big personality and a big heart. He’ll be remembered by the laughter and energy he brought to all who were lucky enough to be in his life. He loved being a father and a grandfather. One granddaughter recalls “I loved it when Grandpa served ice-cream for breakfast.”
Bill once wrote: “if we are to be judged in the afterlife, the greatest sin of all may well be the sin of omission – what we don’t do to make this a better place to live.”
Bill is preceded in death by his wife Janice (61 years), daughters Mary, Laurice (Michael Palmer) and Claire, sons Michael (Prissi Cohen) and Vincent, and daughter-in-law Mary Jennings (Mark). He is survived by his children Pamela (Tim), Christopher (Benita), Mark, Melissa (Paul), Garth (Trina), and Keira; 15 grandchildren (Christian, Nick, Will, Kay, Ben, Megan, Seth, Tyler, Josie, Erin, Stephen, Emily, Marci, Tillie, and Addie); 9 great grandchildren (Jack, Lily, Odessa, Eban, Amedeo, Ida, Elliot, Emmett, Bennett); and longtime companion Daryl Annette Swan.
The funeral mass was on April 28 at St. Alice Catholic Church.
