William "Bill" Smith Colyer, 83, of Thompsontown, died at 1:00 a.m., on Wednesday, April 25, 2012 at the SUN Home Hospice Care Center, Sunbury.

Born on October 7, 1928 in Fayette Twp., Juniata County, he was a son of the late Cloyd and Margaret "Maggie" (Smith) Colyer.

On October 22, 1954 he married his surviving wife, Jean E. (Mitchell) Colyer, with whom he shared more than 57 years of marriage.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his children, Pamela Gibson, of Philadelphia, Barbara Clark, of Liverpool, Keith Colyer and his wife Eileen, of Thompsontown, Kenneth Colyer and his wife, Deborah, of Lewistown, Todd Colyer and his wife Kathy, of Fredericksburg, Va., Jeffery Colyer, of Thompsontown, Tracy Colyer, of Acworth, Ga.; three brothers, George Colyer, Cloyd Colyer and his wife Betty, Roy Colyer and his wife Nancy, all of McAlisterville; one sister, Esther Billow and her husband Harry, of McAlisterville and he leaves behind 11 grandchildren, Nathaniel Gibson, Stephanie Gibson, Michael Clark, Jr., Robert Clark, Rebecca Smith, Jennifer Colyer, Andrew Colyer, Loren Carpenter, Katie Saunders, Joshua Windley, Jessica Windley, as well as 6 great grandchildren Shana Carpenter, Anastasia Colyer, Lidia Windley, Tylor Windley, Micah Windley and Mia Windley.

Two brothers and five sisters, Albert "Pete" Colyer, Norman "Shorty" Colyer Mary Dressler, Anna Mae Weiand, Ruth Colyer, Althea Meiser and Mildred Dunn, preceded him in death.

William was a member of the Brown's United Methodist Church, Cocolamus, where he served as Usher Captain and had been a member of the church choir.

He also served his country proudly in the U.S. Army, during the Korean Conflict.

In earlier life Mr. Colyer was a self-employed farmer and later retired in 1991 from Empire Kosher Poultry, Inc., Mifflintown after more than 24 years of service.

Bill's love of the outdoors manifested itself in his love of farming, gardening and bird watching.

Funeral services were held at 10:00 a.m., on Saturday, April 28, 2012 from the Brown's United Methodist Church, Cocolamus with Pastor Clair Troutman and Rev. Charles Tressler officiating. Interment followed in the Goodwill Cemetery, McAlisterville, where the Juniata County Veterans Council will accord full military burial honors.

Viewing was from 4-8 p.m., with the family present from 6-8 p.m., Friday, April 27, 2012 at the Brown Funeral Homes, Inc. 111 Westfall St., McAlisterville, and from 9 a.m. until the time of service on Saturday at the church.

The family kindly requests that memorial contributions be made in Mr. Colyer's memory to the American Diabetes Assoc., 3544 North Progress Ave., Suite 101, Harrisburg, PA 17110 or to the SUN Home Hospice, 61 Duke St., P.O. Box 232, Northumberland, PA 17857.

Brown Funeral Homes, Inc. Obituary