Willard Ezra Nyman, III “Bill”, age 71, died on July 31, 2015 in Jonesport, Maine of cancer.
Bill was born on January 23, 1944 in Long Beach, California to Willard Ezra Nyman, Jr. and Wanda Wallace Nyman. His father worked on Liberty Ships during WWII. At it’s conclusion, the family returned to Logan, Cache Co., Utah, where Bill grew up.
Bill was an excellent student and loved sports, especially baseball, where he excelled. He was offered a draft for the New York Yankees, which he reluctantly declined in order to continue his education. He graduated from Logan High, and later from Utah State University, majoring in Political Science and Finance. He was on the golf team at Utah State and was a distinguished military graduate from ROTC. Graduating with a Juris Doc in Law from the University of Utah Law School, he entered active duty in the Army as Viet Nam was closing down. He was a finance officer for a year, then switched divisions to the JAG Corps where he served the remainder of his 20 year career in the service.
He married JoEllen Smith on April 15, 1974, in the Logan LDS Temple. They were blessed with 2 sons, Willard E. Nyman, IV, and Brian Dean Nyman. Together they enjoyed 2 duty tours in Germany, as well as Virginia and Huntsville, AL. Over his career, Bill was a Defense Attorney, Chief Prosecutor, and Attorney in contract law. He loved serving his country. Upon military retirement, he was employed by the Boeing Co., where he served another 19 years in contract and export law.
Bill was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where he served in many callings including Bishop, High Councilor, and Temple Ordinance Worker. Of all callings, he loved temple service the most, next to his calling as a “Dad”. He and JoEllen moved to Jonesport, Maine in 2013 after coming to love the area and people they met there on vacation. They also felt they could help a small branch of the church. Bill served as Branch President for the last 1 ½ years of his life.
Bill is survived by his wife, JoEllen; his son Brian; daughter in law, LeAnn Yancy Nyman; two granddaughters, Kaidrei and Malea; and one grandson, Wen. He is also survived by a brother, Gregory Nyman.
He left this life for a glorious reunion with son Wen, looking forward to his wife JoEllen and son Brian and his family rejoining him in the future. He firmly knew that families can be together forever.
Funeral service will be on Saturday August 8, 2015 at 11am at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Madison Ward Chapel on Slaughter Road in Madison. Bill will lie in state at the church from 10-11am on that day. Burial will follow at Madison Memorial Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Friday August 7th from 6pm until 8pm at Spry Funeral Home of Huntsville.
