Billie Gayel was born November 16, 1930 near Trafalgar IN, the son of Joyce (Hall) and Lester Cochran.

Bill and his siblings grew up in that area.  As a youth he raised rabbits, had a couple of newspaper routes, planted tomatoes and worked at a nearby German POW camp.  With his older brother, George, he joined the Air Force after high school in 1948.

At Lackland AFB for basic, he decided the career field of Explosive Ordnance Disposal was  appealing because it included a diving program.  That was canceled soon after his arrival at the joint service school in Indian Head MD but Bill stayed with  EOD for the next 20 years.  Had 21 permanent changes of station in that time! (MT, UT, VA, SD and Morocco, Greenland, Japan and more). In 1950 he married Juanita, they had 4 children.  He married Ann Workentine June 6, 1959, they have one son.

Retiring from the AF, they moved to St Louis to continue his education at Washington University and Eden Theological Seminary (and grow a beard!).  As a MDiv graduate from Eden, he accepted the call from 1st Congregational UCC in Casper WY as pastor. After 3 years, he made a career change, while continuing to serve the wider church as supply preacher and many committees and mission opportunities. For the state of Wyoming he worked as a job counselor and a highway tech.

With the help of friends and family, Bill and Ann built their own home.  They had a large garden (asparagus or rhubarb anyone)! Traveling in the RV, going to Habitat builds across the country, music conferences and after Hurricane Katrina spending 2 five week stints in Biloxi MS helping with cleanup. Bill sang with the Casper Civic Chorale, they enjoyed overseas and domestic choir trips. In the RV Bill enjoyed taking Ann and a cat on his dream trip to Alaska, NWT and Yukon.  As Bill would say "we had many wonderful adventures."

Eventually Bill lost his snow shovel and they moved to Green Valley AZ.  Active in church choir, men's group, birding and anything that needed to be done. He died May 17 2026 at Silver Springs, his home the last 5 years, surrounded by his wife and the folks that loved him.

He is survived by Ann, spouse and devoted wife of almost 67 years. Children Jeffrey Gayel, Cheryl Lynne Gangl, Timothy Cameron, and Robert Bruce and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Also sister Ann Richardson and brothers Charles and Dan Beard.

Preceding him in death were his parents Joyce and Lester, brothers George and Richard, sisters Patricia, Zella, Barbara and Joyce, and sons Phillip and Douglas.

A celebration of life service will be held Saturday June 20 at 11am at Good Shepherd UCC, 17750 S La Canada, Sahuarita AZ 85629

Memorials may be made to Sahuarita Food Bank & Community Resource Center, 17750 S La Canada, Sahuarita AZ 85629; Good Shepherd UCC; Habitat for Humanity Tucson, 3501 N Mountain Ave, Tucson AZ 85719; or any charity of the donors choosing.