William Ravey Heisey

William Ravey HeiseyFebruary 23, 1944 - May 6, 2026

Bill Heisey, born February 23, 1944, died peacefully at his home on May 6, 2026.Bill is survived by Beth, his wife of nearly 60 years; his children, Stacy Heisey-Terrell (Christopher) and Jay (Kendall); and his six grandchildren, Cecily, Olivia, Christina, Ella, Amelia (Jeremy), and Will “Deuce”. He also leaves behind many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, loyal customers, faithful neighbors, and dear friends. He was a lucky man.Born and raised in Bakersfield as a fourth-generation resident, Bill learned the value of hard work and relationships early on while working at the family hardware store Standstone Brick. In 1987, he started his own business as an independent plant, tree, and seed salesman, building lasting relationships with the nurseries he represented and the customers he served throughout the Central Valley and into Arizona.Bill spent countless hours on the road in his white trucks, putting millions of miles behind him while listening to audiobooks borrowed first from the Kern County Libraries and later from libraries all along the Valley. He never stopped learning, listening, or connecting.A born salesman and natural storyteller, Bill loved people. He loved conversation, swapping stories, telling jokes, and lingering wherever friends gathered — in driveways, on patios, at car shows, or in nurseries — just to shoot the breeze. He had a gift for making connections and making people laugh.The family would like to thank the many friends, neighbors, work colleagues, and especially the nieces and nephews who visited, prayed for, and supported Bill through his final days.A celebration of life will be held 12:00-4:00pm on Saturday, May 23rd, at Hodel's Country Dining, 5917 Knudsen Dr., Bakersfield, CA 93308.In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Kern County Friends of the Library.