Jack Wesley Wilson:
"Written in honor of my brother who served his country for 30 years"
"My brother Bill, was a Sailor by trade,
But no better man has God ever made.
He was an old salt, an ornery old cuss,
and sometimes he'd made a hell of a fuss,
But his heart was so big, so full of love,
His spirit will forever will shine from above.
When I was a child he was my inspiration
To me he was God's greatest creation.
Though our careers kept us far, far apart,
We were always together deep down in our heart.
Janice, his helpmate for so many years -
Your love will endure, hold not back your tears.
'Pa'loved his babies, he loved them all,
The big ones, the short ones, 'specially the small.
A man is not measured by stature or place
for we are all equal in God's mercy and grace.
Someday when I'm called home by the lord,
I'll find Bill there, waiting, to share his reward."

Kathy Grams:
I will miss my Dad very much! Dad made sure that all his family was taken care of during his life. We could always count on Dad for anything, his heart was beautiful. Dad loved all children and offered up his suffering for all the children in the world. I love you Dad!

Pamela van Overmeeren:
My Dad exhibited more strength than I had deemed to be humanly possible. When most people would have given up, he kept going with enthusiasm. Throughout my life, he always had a special way of making sense out of situations that made no sense to me, and when life became a jumbled mess, he organized the pieces. I could always count on him to tell me all was well, "just keep on keeping on" he'd say. When I was a little girl, I remember him saying that one day he would die. He said when a parent has lived a long life and they pass away, you experience a sweet sadness. The only sweetness that I see right now, is the entirety of his life and the knowledge of how fortunate I am to be his daughter. I am so proud of him that I am bursting inside. He was truly a superman, and I thank God that he's my Dad.

John Phillips
William Kenneth Evitt, a powerful name for a powerful man. Throughout his life he was also known to his family and friends as "Bill", "Dad", "Daddy", "Father", "Grandfather", "Grandpa", "Pa", "Paul", "Chief", Senior Chief" and to me "The Dad". "The Dad" was a strong and caring man, a military man, the dad I never had. He was always there to lend a hand, give advice (sometimes even if you didn't want to hear it), show you the way, be a listener or just be what I considered him, a great person and friend, a man you could always count on. Through most of our military lives together we trained for battle, combat and war. We trained to fight, to be tough and we learned about bravery and courage. During his final days he put up one hell of a fight and he taught me about being tough, being brave and having courage more than I had ever learned before. THE FINAL INSPECTION:

The sailor stood and faced God
Which must always come to pass
He hoped his shoes were shining
Just as brightly as his brass.

"Step forward now, you sailor
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To my Church have you been true?"

The sailor squared his shoulders and said,
"No, Lord, I guess I ain't
Because those of us who carry guns
Can't always be a saint.

I've had to work most Sundays
And at times my talk was tough,
And sometimes I've been violent,
Because the world is awfully rough.

But I never took a penny
That wasn't mine to keep---
Though I worked a lot of overtime
When the bills got just too steep,

And I never passed a cry for help,
Though at times I shook with fear,
And sometimes, God forgive me
I've wept unmanly tears.

I know I don't deserve a place
Among the people here,
They never wanted me around
Except to calm their fears.

If you've a place for me here, Lord,
It needn't be so grand,
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don't, I'll understand.

There was a silence all around the throne
Where the saints had often trod
As the sailor waited quietly,
For the judgment of his God,

Step forward now, you sailor,
You've borne your burdens well,
Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,
You've done your time in hell!