William M. Talbott

William M. (Bill) Talbott,88, Longtime resident of Phoenix, Az., formerly of Gallatin County passed away on April 9, 2013. Bill was preceded in death by his wife Mary (Jo) Talbott in Oct 2003. He is survived by two children Jackie Talbott and B. J. Talbott;  two grandsons, Preston S. Talbott and W. Matthew Talbott; one sister, Joyce and J.W. Graves of Omaha. He also has many nieces and nephews who will greatly miss him. Bill was also preceded in death by his parents, William Edgar and Nellie A. (Harris)

Talbott; one sister, Donna Jean Gross.  He was a U. S. Army veteran and served as a combat engineer, stationed at Ft. Lewis WA. Bill spent his early life on a farm in Bowlesville Township, south of present day Shawneetown Ill. The family relocated to Phoenix in May of 1959. He resumed a career in construction a field he dearly loved. He retired from Local 428 Operating Engineers in the early 90's. He was expert in the use of the Gradall type excavation equipment. There are few places in the state you can go that he hasn't helped in infrastructure construction. A couple of well known projects were the downtown Hyatt Regency and the London Bridge in Lake Havasu City where he excavated the footings that support those structures.
He enjoyed the outdoors especially fishing and was a great dancer. Many times we have watched an entire dance floor clear to watch he and Mom dance, at one time locally they were nicknamed the rocky top kids. They knew Waylon Jennings in his early career in Phoenix, and loved dancing to his music. He had a lifelong love of country and Bluegrass music. He will be greatly missed and Heaven will now have a great dance team.

Visitation will be held at Chapel of the Chimes Mortuary, 7924 N. 59 ^th Avenue, Glendale, AZ, on Thursday, April 18 ^th from 5 to 7 pm. He will be laid to rest with military honors at 10 am on Friday at National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona. Chapel of the Chimes entrusted with arrangements.  Vickery Funeral Chapel of Shawneetown in charge of local announcements.  Internet condolences may be sent to the website, www.vickeryfuneralchapel.com .