William Henry Stults

William Henry Stults passed away on September 1, 2025. He was born on April 27, 1944 to Donald & Mary Anne (Schnider) Stults in Caldwell, ID. Bill & his brother Jim grew up on ranches in Jordan Valley, Bend & Prineville, OR, and Marsing, ID. Bill attended high school in Ontario, OR, while his father worked as an Oregon State Brand Inspector. Bill started saving money from early jobs like mowing lawns, delivering newspapers, gas station pump attendant, serving Catholic funerals as an altar boy, maintenance at Holy Rosary Hospital and working on Ontario’s garbage trucks with Stan Cousineau. Bill graduated from Ontario High School in 1962 and enjoyed many years of his OHS & Gerrie’s PHS reunions. After high school Bill & Dick McNutt drove their ’29 Model A Ford west to the Oregon Coast, north to Canada, east to Arizona and south to Mexico, camping out along the way.

Bill was among the first students to attend night classes in 1962 at Treasure Valley Community College where he met Gerrie Ahrens. He began working for First National Bank of Oregon about 1963. Bill & Gerrie married in 1964 and had daughters Lucy & Karen in Ontario. Bill’s banking career lasted thirty years in Ontario, Nyssa, Condon, Madras and Prairie City, OR. Bill was a member of Lions Club and served on HOA boards at Cuprum & Payette. Bill took early retirement at age 50 and moved to their cabin in Cuprum, ID as his major residence for about 30 years. When Gerrie got lung cancer (still in remission), Bill sold the cabin and moved to their Payette, ID townhouse.

Bill’s hobbies were hunting, riding horses, Pinochle, watching the stock market, watching retro TV, football and NASCAR races. Bill loved his family and especially enjoyed time spent with his 3 grandchildren, Derrick, Hannah & Rachel. Bill enjoyed entertaining family and friends at Cuprum. He was honest, kind, hard working, frugal and organized. Bill suffered a massive heart attack on Highway 95 near Payette. He was revived and flown to Boise St Luke’s Cardiac ICU where he lay for 5 days, until we honored his Living Will wishes and allowed him to pass quickly and peacefully, with dignity at age 81. Payette’s good Samaritans and first responders were WONDERFUL!

He is survived by his wife Gerrie after 61 years of marriage; daughter Lucy & David Lyle; grandchildren: Derrick, Bekah & Noah Lyle; Hannah & fiancée Ryan Bigelow; Rachel, Chris, Greyson & Denver Gonda; daughter Karen Stults & grand dog Reuben. Brothers Jim & Joanne Stults; Joe & Nelda Stults; Chuck & Kellie Stults; nieces & nephews: Mike Stults, Robert Stults, Patty Frasier; Donnie Stults, Annie Whinery; Dan Stults along with their families; his Stults & Schnider cousins and friends.

Visitation will be 1 pm and funeral will be 2 pm Saturday, September 6 at Shaffer-Jensen Memory Chapel 112 N. 9th St, Payette, Idaho, with burial following at Riverside Cemetery in Payette. Donations made be made to St Jude’s Hospital.