Bill was reunited with his parents, grandparents and many great friends on Sept. 1, 2023, at his home in Hines with Dianna by his side.

Bill was born Dec. 15, 1946, in Ogden, Utah, to Shirley (Murphy) and Dean Jaques. As a young child, Bill lived with his parents and three younger siblings in Brigham City, Utah. He would spend weekends and summers at the family farm/dairy in Henefer, Utah, with his grandparents Franklin and Darlene Jaques. While there, he loved playing and exploring with his numerous cousins and would learn the value of country living and hard work.

In the mid 1950s, Bill’s grandparents, William and Viola Murphy, moved to Harney County, where they opened Murphy’s Tavern in Burns. At the age of 12, Bill’s family would relocate to Hines; where his father worked as a diesel mechanic and welder for many of the surrounding ranches; his mother worked as a clerk for the Extension Office at the Harney County Courthouse. He loved spending time with his grandparents in Burns; watching Grandpa Bill train golden glove boxers and deal cards for poker games; to being spoiled rotten by Grandma Vi. He attended school in Hines and at Burns Union High School.

As a young man, Bill spent summers on the south end of Harney County working for the Dunbar Ranch as a ranch and cattle hand. Bill left Harney County briefly in the late 1960’s, but home was never far from his mind or heart. He loved Harney County like no other place on earth.

In 1970, he met and married the love of his life, Dianna Snow. Bill and Dianna married on Sept. 6, 1970, in Reno. The began their family the following year in Burns, with the birth of their daughter, Krystie Lynn. Son, John Dean would follow in November of 1973. The had two beautiful grandchildren join the family in 2013, Joshua Scott and Ayla Mae Jaques.

After starting his family, Bill worked construction for John Wooster and Frank Revak over the years. There are many buildings and homes around Burns and Hines that Bill was proud to have worked on. He supported his family this way until he was hired at Edward Hines Lumber as a welder and millwright. Bill would go on to work for Snow Mountain Pine and retire with Louisiana Pacific when the mill closed in 2006. 

He enjoyed rifle and bow hunting in the surrounding mountains and fishing in the many streams, rivers and lakes. He also loved spending time moose hunting and fishing in Prince William Sound with his son, John, in Alaska. His last trip to Alaska was truly the trip of a lifetime. Bill was able to go to Wasilla, with his brother, Bob, and sister-in-law, Patsy, in 2019. There, they were joined by their sisters, Dennie and Diane, enjoying spending time visiting family, seeing Denali with niece, Jodi Hettrick, by plane and deep-sea fishing from John’s boat, offshore bank.

After retiring, Bill enjoyed working on and driving his ‘51 Chevy, gardening, sitting under the apple tree with family and friends, and walking in 5/10K races. His favorite was training for and walking the Chris Miller Memorial Steens Rim Run. He loved walking the “Toughest 10K” for 14-years. His last was in August of 2019.

Some of his proudest moments were watching his son play baseball, paying off his 30-year mortgage in 8-years, seeing both of his children graduate from college and become successful in their chosen professions and the addition of his grandchildren, Josh and Ayla, to the Jaques family.

Bill is survived by his wife of 53 years, Dianna Jaques; daughter, Krystie Jaques-Perryman (Martin), of Fort Collins, Colo.; son, John Jaques (Heidi), grandson, Joshua, and granddaughter, Ayla, of Wasilla, Alaska; sister, Dennie Jaques, of Wasilla, Alaska; brother, Bob (Patsy) Jaques, of Boring, Ore.; sister, Diane Thomas, of Wasilla, Alaska; many greatly loved nieces/nephews; great-nieces/nephews; and his beloved fur-babies, Sunshine and Ginger. 

He is proceeded in death by his maternal grandparents, William and Viola Murphy; paternal grandparents, Franklin and Darlene Jaques; father, Dean Jaques; and mother, Shirley Jaques-Buchanan.

A Celebration of Life will be held in the spring/summer of 2024. Date, time, and location will be posted on Facebook and published in the Burns Times-Herald, when confirmed. Donations in Bill’s memory can by made to Harney County Home Health and Hospice, 415 N. Fairview, Burns, OR., 97720.