William S Callister

William S Callister (Bill) was born to parents Thomas B and Winifred Floy Schiferl Callister in Spanish Fork, Utah County, Utah on August 31, 1934. Bill as he was known to most throughout his life was not given a middle name at his birth, but like his father, only had a consonant as his given middle name which has caused most everyone to ask, “what does the ‘S’ stand for.” The reply was always the same, “nothing”. Bill loved his Mother and Father through his entire life from his childhood years until the day of his passing. Because of this love for his parents, likewise
Tom and Peg were never very far from Bill through his life as well. This love for his parents would only deepen for a love of his brothers and sisters.
Bill’s family of brothers included Phillip Alva, 2 years older; Wiley S, less than two years younger: Thomas Paul, 11 years younger; and Keith S, 13 years younger than Bill.
Bill’s two sisters are Shirley who was a year older and passed as an infant, and a younger sister Diane. Bill’s six siblings that grew to adulthood provided him with much happiness and joy throughout his life and as a family of love and appreciation for each other.
Bill’s growing-up in Spanish Fork, Utah, was for a short time. Bill’s parents, Tom and Peg soon settled in Dayton, Idaho where they had purchased a farm. It was on this farm located in north-western Cache Valley that Bill would spend his growing-up and teenage years. These years would teach Bill a strong ethic of working hard each and every day of his life. Throughout his life, whether it be at work or at home, Bill always had projects that needed to be completed that day. He was not one to procrastinate until tomorrow a job that needed to be done today.
This ethic of hard work was not only learned on the farm, but was in his DNA and a part of who Bill was. In 1842, Thomas Callister, Bill’s great-grandfather emigrated from the Isle of Man through England to the United States. Thomas then arrived in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1847, as part of the first pioneer wagon trains. Thomas was soon thereafter sent to colonize a settlement in Millard County known today as Fillmore. His maternal great-great grandparents, the Schiferls, also emigrated with deep work ethics from Germany. Upon arriving in America, the settled on the Great Plains of Nebraska. His Schiferl grandparents would then move further westward and settle in Oakley, Cassia, Idaho. With Man of Isle and German blood, he had no choice but to be a very hard worker throughout his entire life.
While living in Dayton, Bill would attend Westside High during his high school years. It was during his high school years that Bill was able to develop his musical talents. Bill became an excellent trumpeter and had a very good singing voice. Because of these talents, Bill was offered a music scholarship to Idaho State in Pocatello which he declined at the time. Bill graduated from Westside High in 1952. Bill just did not see himself attending college when his real talent was his natural ability with mechanical skills and to be able to fix, ”anything and everything”, he had learned on the farm beside his dad. Bill had a mind that was able repair anything that was in need of repair.
Bill always had a “hot” car in his years at Westside High. Just 7 miles down a country road from Dayton and Westside High is Preston, Idaho. It is in Preston where Bill would meet a girl that would become a part of his life for the eternities. Gloria Kofoed . Gloria was a Preston High girl that worked at the Snootie Cat Drive In. A “hot” car and a girl that worked at a drive-in is a 1950’s love affair story.
That 1950’s love affair story would lead to the wedding in Preston, Idaho of Bill Callister and Gloria Kofoed on July 31, 1953. Married life would take Bill and Gloria to many cities in their early married years. From Preston, it would take them to Boise Idaho, where their first child was born. Christine Callister, born in 1954, would always be special to Bill as his first child. Also while living in Boise, a second girl named Jacqueline was born to Bill and Gloria. Sadly, Jacqueline passed at birth and was buried in Meridian, Idaho. The passing of Jaqueline was difficult on Bill and Gloria. It became a time of sadness in their early-married life. After moving to Southern California, a third girl was born to Bill and Gloria. Deborah Callister born in 1957 in Santa Monica, California, and brought both Bill and Gloria great joy after the passing of Jaqueline a short time before. Michael William would be their fourth child and their first son. It was only natural that Mike would learn many of the traits of his father Bill. Mike learned the ability to be able to fix anything like his father Bill.
Bill’s working years has been with those skills that he learned earlier in his life from the family farm. Whether driving skills that he has used as an over-the-road driver for Utah Lumber Company, his own company named Callister and Son’s Trucking, or with Ryder as a driver for Coca Cola, he was his happiest on the road. It was as if he had “diesel in his blood” He also used his mechanical skills in his business Bill C’s Auto Repair. Throughout his life, Bill has also done auto repairs for family, friends, friends of friends, neighbors, and their “dogs”.
Bill was too young to join the military during the Korean War, but has always had a great interest and knowledge of World War I and II. He has enjoyed always reading books about this era and the conflicts which took place. It Is from this interest that Bill has always had a love affair with airplanes, preferably older than newer. The P-51 Mustang and Lockheed’s P-38 fighter were his favorites. From this interest, Bill found radio-controlled airplanes as a hobby.
Whether flying his own or repairing others to sell, Bill found a new hobby in his later years.
It was only natural, that Bill would go skydiving with family members. Bill always was brave enough and could hardly wait for his next “dive”! From his first dive for his 75th birthday, until his third and last in 2017 at 82 years old, Bill has always enjoyed falling from the skies.
In his last days, Bill was blessed to see almost each and every one of his family. We know this brought happiness to him, for family was always first in his life. May each succeeding generation of descendants always remember and read of the many good, loving, and great attributes of our husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.
We as a family will miss you and will always look upward to see if you haven’t made one more dive from the skies.
He is survived by his wife, daughters Christine (James) Smith,
Deborah (Michael) Guymon, and son Michael William (Tauna)
Callister. 13 grandchildren, and 25 great-grandchildren. Sister
Diane (Bill) Wallin, and brother Thomas (Dorothy) Callister. Bill
is preceded in death by his parents, daughter Jacqueline, brothers
Phillip, Wiley, Keith, sister Shirley, and Suzanne Lawes.
A funeral giving gratitude for Bill’s life will be held Saturday,
August 4 at 3:00 PM at the Bernina Ward Chapel, 3045 W Bernina
Dr, Taylorsville, Utah. Family and friends may visit with the family
Friday, August 3 from 6:00-8:00 PM also at the Bernina Chapel; and
2:00-2:45 PM prior to the service. Interment will follow the service
at Memorial Redwood Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution to assist with Bill’s
medical expenses in his name at Zion’s Bank.
Service Information
Viewing August 3, 2018 at 6:00 PM
3045 West Bernina Dr, Taylorsville, Utah





Viewing August 4, 2018 at 2:00 PM
3045 West Bernina Dr, Taylorsville, Utah





Funeral Service
August 4, 2018 at 3:00 PM
3045 West Bernina Dr, Taylorsville, Utah