William
Wrather Keshishian, lover of
life, master builder,
father, husband, friend,
contrarian, philosopher,
brother, son. He was a man
who touched the lives of
countless people wherever he
went. His charisma could
light up a room.
BK. Bill. Billy. Willer.
Will'am. WillyBoy. AND
"Billy Boy"
He died on Saturday, Dec. 4,
2010, after an admirable
battle with Medullary
thyroid cancer, surrounded
by those who love him deeply
in the home he built for
himself and his family. He
was 56.
Bill's family was the center
of his life. His boys, Liam,
13, and Sam, 10, were a
source of boundless love and
pride. His wife, Moira, was
his soul mate. Together
their small tribe traveled
to Egypt, the Caribbean,
Mexico, on adventures in the
U.S. and logged innumerable
Montana miles for the boys'
Gallatin Gateway School
wrestling matches, as well
as for basketball and
baseball games.
As owner of Elephant
Builders, Bill was a
consummate professional with
dedication to his craft. He
was a perfectionist. He was
a builder with an artist's
heart and true integrity.
Bill danced into this world
on Nov. 24, 1954. He was
born in Washington, D.C.,
the only boy with three
sisters. He grew up in
suburban D.C., Bethesda,
Md., but quickly blazed his
own trail out of the beltway
and into the big world. His
work took him to Kenya,
where he learned how
elephants think and mastered
his own version of the
Swahili language. He
traveled the globe. He
studied jazz saxophone at
the Berklee College of Music
in Boston, Mass.; trained as
an orthopedic farrier
shoeing polo ponies; tended
bar; loved champagne and
tequila; was a cabinet maker
and a fine man. He called
Montana home.
With his mother, Catherine
Morgan Wrather, as his
business partner and his
life's staunchest supporter,
Bill restored the historic
Gallatin Gateway Inn to
grandeur in the 1980s. He
dedicated himself to the Inn
with passion, reclaiming an
important landmark in the
region. It was a project
that connected him to a
community in both Gateway
and in Bozeman.
Beyond his generous spirit,
big heart and smiling eyes,
Bill was known for his sense
of humor. To the end he
found a way to make each of
us laugh when it seemed we
could only cry. He will be
greatly missed. He's smiling
at us even now, just out of
reach, but he will always be
with us.
He is survived by his wife,
Moira Haggerty Keshishian;
sons, Liam Kerr Keshishian
and Samuel Wrather
Keshishian; sisters, Caren
Sage (husband, Paul Sage and
their son, Cody) of Boise,
Idaho, Margaret "Peggy"
Keshishian of Cairo, Egypt,
and Alicia Keshishian
(husband, Billy Bramblett)
of Petaluma, Calif.; his
father, Dr. John Keshishian
(wife, Nancy Lee Keshishian)
of McLean, Va.; the extended
Haggerty family: sister,
Carol Haggerty Reardon
(husband, Jim Reardon);
sister, Beth Beldock
(husband, Gregg Beldock and
children, Geordie, Amory and
Sydney); sister, Gwenne
Dawson (husband, Jim Dawson
and children, Katie, Meg and
Sarah); brother, Richard
Haggerty; and parents, Ed
and Marti Haggerty; Dory the
golden doodle; and many,
many friends.
His mother, Catherine Morgan
Wrather, preceded him in
death.
A celebration of Bill's life
will be held at 3:30 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 13, at the
Gallatin Gateway Inn. A
reception will follow the
memorial service.
In lieu of flowers, please
consider a donation to The
Keshishian Children
Educational Trust.
Contributions may be mailed
to 431 N. Yellowstone,
Livingston, MT 59047.
