Obit: okthen

Subject: Obit: okthen
From: RolyH
Date: 26 Aug 04 - 03:15 PM

Bill Stephens passed away on Tuesday 24th August after his fight with lung cancer.

Bill loved reading and posting on Mudcat and was touched by the messages of good wishes he received when he was first ill.

I got to know Bill through Mudcat and we became good friends as we had the same intrests in music and used to have the odd night out visting local folk clubs.He had many a tale to tell about the old days when he ran folk clubs and I bet there are many untold.

Bill was devoted to his wife and children ( he used to help his son with his paper round every morning!)and I know they are devastated by his passing.

The last time I saw Bill he was more worried that I have his tickets to a concert that he could not go to, rather than himself.

He jokingly said that he wanted an 'obit' thread on Mudcat.
Here it is Bill.

Subject: RE: Obit: okthen
From: jeffp
Date: 26 Aug 04 - 03:20 PM

I'm sorry to hear this. I hope he didn't suffer too much.

My deepest sympathies to his family and friends. That includes you, RolyH.

Jeff Porterfield (jeffp)
Maryland, USA

Subject: RE: Obit: okthen
From: Alice
Date: 26 Aug 04 - 03:22 PM

Condolences to you, his friends and family. Sad to hear of his passing.

Alice Flynn in Montana

Subject: RE: Obit: okthen
From: Pene Azul
Date: 26 Aug 04 - 03:26 PM

Condolences to his friends and family. Rest in peace, Bill.

Jeff

Subject: RE: Obit: okthen
From: wysiwyg
Date: 26 Aug 04 - 03:38 PM

I didn't know! It's so sad.

I always loved his posts, and I thought his Mudcat name was adorable. Deepest sympathies to family and friends.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Obit: okthen
From: CarolC
Date: 26 Aug 04 - 03:47 PM

Deepest condolences to you, RolyH, and to all of his family and friends.

Carol and Rob in Alabama

Subject: RE: Obit: okthen
From: nutty
Date: 26 Aug 04 - 04:43 PM

I'm so very sad to hear this news and my thoughts go out to Bill's family and friends.

I never met Bill but corresponded with him through Mudcat PM's when we were both trying to give up smoking back in 2001. Bill gave me such support and was instrumental in helping me to succeed.

He said he had bought himself a digital camera as his reward, I do hope he had great fun with it.

Subject: RE: Obit: okthen
From: Bill D
Date: 26 Aug 04 - 05:11 PM

a good, pleasant poster--it is sad, and I send condolences to family, and all who knew him. Helping others stop smoking is a fine legacy.

Subject: RE: Obit: okthen
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 26 Aug 04 - 05:28 PM

Condolences from Kentucky.

Mary (the one who still enjoys the Oxford Book of Carols from Roly)

Subject: RE: Obit: okthen
From: Sorcha
Date: 26 Aug 04 - 05:30 PM

Oh, I'm so sorry. My heart goes out to his family and friends. He will be missed around here.

Subject: RE: Obit: okthen
From: katlaughing
Date: 26 Aug 04 - 05:46 PM

My condolences to his family and you, Roly. Thank you for letting us know. It is sad to hear of...I always enjoyed his postings, too. Mudcat was the better for his being among us.

In sympathy,

kat in Colorado

Subject: RE: Obit: okthen
From: Ebbie
Date: 26 Aug 04 - 06:24 PM

My deepest sympathy to his family and friends.

Elva in Alaska

Subject: RE: Obit: okthen
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 26 Aug 04 - 06:28 PM

Sorry to hear this sad news, thanks for letting us know, please pass on our thoughts to his family.


John

Subject: RE: Obit: okthen
From: Guy Wolff
Date: 26 Aug 04 - 07:08 PM

I have not been around enough to hear that Bill was sick but he has been very inportant to me this year in the best of Mudcat ways . Bill not only told me Martin Carthy was playing within 30 miles of my home but emailed directions to the concert . Remember he was in Susex England and Im in Connecticut ( New England) !!!! . Also over the last year he has sent the most wonderful Vidios of concerts of both ELiza and her dad from the BBC and also a great show with June Tabor in a church. This is mudcat at its finast and I am really devistated to hear of Bill's passing .
               I cant thank hin enough for making a real difference in my life . Darn. All the best to all hear and a warm hello to Bill's family .
               Guy Wolff

Subject: RE: Obit: okthen
From: Leadfingers
Date: 26 Aug 04 - 07:47 PM

I only know him from the name on a number of posts - IF the name registered the posts MUST have been worh reading . Another Good'un Gone Dammit . Condolences all round !!

Subject: RE: Obit: okthen
From: wysiwyg
Date: 26 Aug 04 - 08:21 PM

For those who did not have the pleasure of knowing him:

a look back on okthen's postings

~Susan

Subject: RE: Obit: okthen
From: Jeanie
Date: 27 Aug 04 - 03:10 AM

I'm very sorry to hear of this - I always enjoyed reading what he had to say.
Thinking of his family and friends,
- jeanie

Subject: RE: Obit: okthen
From: GUEST,ted robinson
Date: 27 Aug 04 - 03:17 AM

Sad news indeed. Ted Robinson.

Subject: RE: Obit: okthen
From: alanabit
Date: 27 Aug 04 - 04:08 AM

I enjoyed his posts. Unfortunately, I only knew him from here. Farewell to a polite, charming and interesting man.

Subject: RE: Obit: okthen
From: fat B****rd
Date: 27 Aug 04 - 04:20 AM

My sympathies to his family and friends.

Subject: RE: Obit: okthen
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Aug 04 - 04:27 AM

Very sad. The 'Cat has lost one of its best Welshmen (even if he did play down the ancestry).

Condolences to family and friends.

Subject: RE: Obit: okthen
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 27 Aug 04 - 05:01 AM

Rest in peace okthen.

eric

Subject: RE: Obit: okthen
From: mooman
Date: 27 Aug 04 - 05:09 AM

Deepest condolences to his family and all who knew him.

May he rest in peace.

moo

Subject: RE: Obit: okthen
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 27 Aug 04 - 06:19 AM

Very sad indeed. I only knew Bill from here as well but happened to send him 3 types of Lancashire cheese which he mentioned he liked! When I heard he was ill I thought to send him some more but never got round to it. Just shows you should do things there and then before it is too late:-( Condolances to Bills family.

Dave

Subject: RE: Obit: okthen
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 27 Aug 04 - 07:45 AM

Go well, Bill.

Allison

Subject: RE: Obit: okthen
From: HuwG
Date: 27 Aug 04 - 08:33 AM

Sorry - the GUEST above was me, with cookie and brain temporarily absent. No disrespect intended. Commiserations.

Subject: RE: Obit: okthen
From: Rapparee
Date: 27 Aug 04 - 08:40 AM

What a shame. My condolences and sympathy to all.

Mike

Subject: RE: Obit: okthen
From: Den
Date: 27 Aug 04 - 09:11 AM

Sad news. My sympathy goes to his family and friends. Den

Subject: RE: Obit: okthen
From: Mudlark
Date: 27 Aug 04 - 03:06 PM

Sad news, indeed...the loss of a kind, intelligent person. They leave the biggest holes, but also leave the best kind of legacy. My sympathies to all who feel the loss.

Subject: RE: Obit: okthen
From: catspaw49
Date: 27 Aug 04 - 04:00 PM

Always could rely on his posts......a very good man and I am sorry to hear this news. My best thoughts to his family.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Obit: okthen
From: Sorcha
Date: 27 Aug 04 - 04:32 PM

So many good ones leaving us.....come on, Next Generation.....let's pick up some slack here.

Subject: RE: Obit: okthen
From: Matthew Edwards
Date: 27 Aug 04 - 05:55 PM

This is very sad news, but thanks to Roly for posting it here. I enjoyed Bill's posts here, and was amazed to discover that he and I had been at the same school in Colchester though not at the same time. We shared a few memories together about the school, and about folk music in the 60's and early 70's in NE Essex which was good, but I'm sorry now that we never got to meet to talk at greater length.

My condolences to all his family and friends. He will be much missed.

Matthew

Subject: RE: Obit: okthen
From: C-flat
Date: 28 Aug 04 - 03:49 AM

Sad news.
okthen/Bill was one of the good guys.

Subject: RE: Obit: okthen
From: sledge
Date: 28 Aug 04 - 04:00 AM

My Sympathy and condolences to his family and friends.

Stuart

Subject: RE: Obit: okthen
From: Peg
Date: 28 Aug 04 - 11:35 AM

oh no. Terrible news. I always enjoyed his posts.

Subject: RE: Obit: okthen
From: RangerSteve
Date: 28 Aug 04 - 12:03 PM

My condolences. Steve

Subject: RE: Obit: okthen
From: RolyH
Date: 01 Sep 04 - 12:45 PM

As a postscript-

Bills funeral was today, the service being held in the beautiful suroundings of Clare Priory,Suffolk, one of his favourite places.

His wife, Shiela was very touched by the comments on this thread.A few quotes from it were read out at the service and the whole was printed off for his family and friends to read afterwards.

Thanks to all.

Roly

Subject: RE: Obit: okthen
From: GUEST,Big Mick on a neighbor's computer
Date: 01 Sep 04 - 07:31 PM

I am heartbroken to hear this. My computer is still down and I only just discovered this sad news.

This was a wonderful poster, and judging by what I have read, a very nice person. It now falls to those who knew him to look for his voice in others. I could be mistaken, but I don't recall a nasty post from this fine Mudcatter.

God be good to him.

Mick