May 17, 1937 — February 13, 2024

NAPLES — J. William (Bill) Devorss, 86, passed away suddenly on Tuesday, February 13, 2024, at home with his loving wife Sharon at his side.

He was born on May 17, 1937, in Glen Ridge, N.J., the son of the late Elizabeth (Egleson) Devorss and Joseph William Devorss Jr.

Bill grew up in Schenectady, N.Y. and Washington, DC, before he moved to Mountain Lakes, N.J. He graduated from Mountain Lakes High School in 1956. He had longtime friendships and fond memories of teenage escapades from those years. An exceptional student in mathematics, he attended Lafayette College, Easton, Pa., majoring in Engineering.

He began his work life in New Jersey at McWilliams Forge, Rockaway, N.J. Later, Bill was a commercial loan officer with two different banks, and was employed by Forest Lumber, Mountain Lakes. A bachelor for many years, he enjoyed visiting his close friend Dick Horns in Vermont and Maine, who was then married to Sharon. When Sharon was widowed, she and Bill eventually fell in love, marrying on December 9, 1995.

After his mother suffered a debilitating stroke, Bill provided home care for her. He was a perfectionist — a handicap to those in a rush for results — however, a bonus to friends playing horseshoes at his home-built, regulation pit. With an eye for beauty, he gifted family with glossy photo-calendars at Christmas, which starred his long-haired dachshund Heidi one month and a flowering plum tree in the yard the next. The calendar pages fit snugly into a wooden frame Bill had fashioned.

Bill was an avid reader of military histories and science. He loved the challenge of jigsaw puzzles and bridge; he listened to classical music, went fishing and savored Sharon’s Naples-famous pies. He was a fixture assisting his wife with preparations and clean-up for the Edes Falls Sewing Circle bean suppers.

Most of all, Bill was an adoring, loving husband and a loyal friend. He is survived by his wife of 28 years, Sharon (Dubuque) Devorss of Naples; brother Dr. James E. Devorss (Sandy), Salem, Ore.; and sister Joanne (Devorss) Garner (Richard), Apache Junction, Ariz.; nephew John Devorss (Kim) and nieces Cathy Evans (Brett) and Caroline Bogart (Jon); and grandnephew Connor Devorss.

No service is planned at this time.

Arrangements are in the care of the Hall Funeral Home in Casco where condolences and tributes may be shared at www.hallfuneralhome.net.

Donations may be made in Bill’s memory to the Naples Public Library, P.O. Box 1717, Naples, ME 04055.