A celebration of Billy’s life will be held on Saturday, September 24th, 2016. Please email
Bi*********************@gm***.com
or contact the Dorrance Family for details.
William (Billy) Cornett Dorrance of Hollister, CA passed away peacefully at his home on Sunday, August 28, 2016 with his loving wife Jeanne by his side. He was 63 years old.
Billy was the son of Bill and Marie Cornett Dorrance and was raised on the family cattle ranch on Mt. Toro, overlooking the Salinas Valley.
Billy graduated from Salinas High School where he, his twin brother, Dave, and his younger brother, Steve were all very active in 4-H and Future Farmers of America.
He later attended Hartnell College and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo before moving to Hollister to try his hand at farming with his brother, Dave. Billy and Dave farmed hay on Shore Road for over 25 years, while continuing to be involved with the cattle ranch on Mt. Toro.
Billy enjoyed riding, roping, and working the cattle on the Mt. Toro Ranch. He looked forward to deer season every year and never missed getting his buck. He volunteered for 43 years as a committee member at the California Rodeo Salinas and enjoyed attending the San Benito County Saddle Horse Show and Rodeo in Hollister.
When Billy met Jeanne Wilde in 1998, her friends told him to run, but bachelor Billy ran slow enough so she could catch him. They married by the Monterey Bay in 2002.
They enjoyed riding, traveling, attending family functions together, and loved just being at home with their horses, dogs and alpacas (ok, so he wasn’t crazy about the alpacas it was a stretch for a cattleman).
Billy is survived by his wife Jeanne, his brother Dave, Dave and Suzanne’s daughter, Mei Mei, his brother, Steve and his sister-in-law, Leslie, their children Drew, Clifton, and Mollie, and by numerous extended family members.
He will be greatly missed by everyone that had the chance to know him and will be remembered for his kind way, detailed stories, and distinctive laugh.
