William Derrick Bishop

Feb. 1, 1989-Sept. 22, 2020

Posted

On Sept. 22, 2020, a beautiful light, filled with effervescent joy and boundless love, left this earth. If you heard laughter in a room, it was Derrick. If you were alone and needed a friend, it was Derrick. He understood what so many only strive to understand, that being there for others, loving them truly and deeply, was the most important gift. He gave this gift generously and without condition. His family meant absolutely everything to him.

Born in San Diego on Feb. 1, 1989, to Jim and Teri Bishop, he was adored by each of his nine siblings, of which he was number seven. As he grew up he excelled in varsity sports where he lettered in football, volleyball and basketball. After becoming an Eagle Scout and graduating from Ramona High he set his sights on becoming a Navy Seal. As so often is the case, life had a different idea, and after a severe concussion in pre-seal training, he reset his sails for nursing.

This beautiful twist of fate led him to a more fulfilled life than he could have ever imagined. At nursing school he met the love of his life, Malorie Chadwick. He was instantly enamored with everything about her; her beauty, sense of adventure, love of dogs, and devotion to family. They graduated together in 2014 and moved to Kemmerer. Their wedding, outside, on the river, surrounded by nature and all who loved him, was one of the happiest days of his life. It welcomed in an incredible new chapter, one filled with BBQ rib weekends, camping under the stars, and two precious baby boys.

Knox and Nixon were his whole world. He would sit in his rocker and hold them, holding on to every precious moment. He would wake in the morning to snuggle them close, watching them sleep and wake, waiting with anticipation for their daddy and son side by side adventures, for their frog hunting at frog pond city with Brinley and Easton to once again begin.

Another one of his great joys was spending time in the shop with Malorie’s father, Johnny, “J.C.”.

He left this earth much too soon, but in his wake, he left millions of cherished memories, memories that we can hold close to our hearts, for days and years to come. Memories that we can whisper to when we miss him most.

“What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.” Affectionately known as “Billy D,”, William Derrick Bishop is survived by so many that he loved, his wife Malorie; her parents, John and Joyce; his sons, Knox and Nixon; his parents, Jim and Teri; his nine brothers and sisters, Jaisa, Jimmy, Jamie, Ryan, Jon, Joy, Anthony, Nicholas and Cassie; Brittany and her family; Whitney and her family; grandfather, William Terrence “Terry” Mahaffey, and his wife, Sandy; and a paternal grandmother, Nancy K. Leirer,  and many beloved aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews. Donations can be made to the Bishop Family Fund by calling the First Bank in Kemmerer or by Venmo contribution to @Bishop-familyfund.