William W. (Bill) Gibbs, 82, passed away April 7 at his home in Burns.

Bill was born in Oakland, Calif., in 1936. While in California, he excelled as an automotive machinist and small business owner. He formed California Speed Merchants, which tackled a wide variety of automotive challenges from drag racing cars to vintage Rolls Royce automobiles. During his vacations, he traveled in Oregon looking for the ideal retirement place. He found it in Burns. He moved to Burns more than 20 years ago, bringing with him his elderly widowed father who passed away in 1998.

Bill maintained his interest in anything automotive in his retirement. He was keenly interested in local, national, and international events, particularly their economic aspects. He was also a history buff, especially 20th century history. He regularly breakfasted at a local restaurant with friends on Saturday mornings.

He had an abiding love of dogs and was never without at least one canine companion. While a few of these were purebred German or Belgian shepherds, Bill also adopted dogs from shelters or gave abandoned dogs another chance at a good life in a loving home.

Bill kept in touch with his friends in California. His family, consisting of a sister, brother-in-law, two nieces, and grand-nieces, also live in California. But Bill made a new family in Harney County and will be remembered lovingly by his neighbors and his circle of friends of all ages. He was generous, big-hearted, and always believed the best about people.

Lafollette’s Chapel in Burns handled the transfer of Bill’s earthly remains to his family plot at Oakmont Memorial Park in Lafayette, Calif. for funeral services and burial.