William "Billy" Lancaster, 25, son, brother, uncle, nephew, cousin and friend went home to Heaven on November 17, 2017.
Billy was born on March 19, 1992 in Leesburg, FL and passed away in Fort Pierce, FL at his family home. He is the beloved son of Stephen and Carol (Ernstes) Lancaster. He graduated from Fort Pierce Westwood High School at the top of his class in 2010 and later graduated from Indian River State College with an AA in 2012.
Billy loved his family, friends, and puppies with all his heart. He was a man of his word with deep conviction, a loyal friend, and a child of God. He had a special love for the less fortunate, the left behind, and the down trodden. Billy enjoyed the fellowship of a great group of young people in his church youth group as a teen and formed deep and lasting bonds with those he met. He loved watching movies with friends, billiards and strategy games, and owned a diverse collection of classic rock albums.
As an avid pool player and a member of the American Pool Players Association (APA), Billy competed on a local pool league and even made it all the way to Las Vegas for the world championship tournament. He loved the sport with a passion, often willing to teach anyone who would let him, and he especially loved the fellowship that accompanied the competition. Although Billy often thought highly of his billiards skills, he was gracious and humble when he won or lost.
Billy loved both animals and Japanese culture as is caricatured by his newest pup, Tobimaru, so named by the Japanese phrase “Flying Messenger Boy.” Billy always dreamed of teaching in Japan and living in their culture. Although he never got to realize this dream, he enjoyed the culture through the series of the Japanese Anime shows he loved to watch. He now reunites with his childhood beagle, Sonny, at the gates of Heaven.
Billy has dealt with multiple illnesses over the last few years of his life, and while we know he is no longer in pain and running free, our hearts are broken beyond measure. Thank you all so much for your love, prayers, and support.
Preceding Billy in death are Billy George Lancaster (paternal grandfather), Irma “Jean” Lancaster (paternal grandmother), Daniel Bryant (older brother), Jimmy Lancaster (Uncle), and Larry Ernstes (maternal grandfather).
Billy leaves behind his maternal grandmother, Juanita Cross; mother, Carol (Ernstes) Lancaster; father, Stephen A. Lancaster and her significant other, John Knight; and his significant other, Mary Thomas; sister and brother, Jessie Lancaster and Michael Vickers; brother- and sister-in-law Devin and Katlyn Bryant; uncles and aunts: David Ernstes, Sandy Summerlin, Pam Shaw, Butch and Everete (and their families); niece and nephew, Cora and Bryan Bryant; cousins: CPL James Dean Summerlin, Dawn and John Kneer, Megan Shaw, and Michelle Guerriero; best friends, Jonathan Lima, Michael Carver, and countless others.
Services will be held at Haisley Funeral Home on Okeechobee Rd in Ft Pierce, FL on Saturday, November 25, 2017. Visiting hours will be from 11:00 to 1:00 pm. Funeral service begins at 1:00 pm followed by graveside at White City Cemetery. There will be a get together to celebrate Billy's life with family and friends at his Aunt Sandy Summerlin’s home immediately after the graveside service. She is located at 230 Hunt Ave, Ft Pierce, 34946, just behind the Chocolate Factory on US 1. Should you like, Please bring a covered dish.
If you would like to honor Billy’s life and memory, you can make a donation to Dog's and Cat's forever at 4600 Selvitz Road, Ft Pierce, FL 34981 or the Muscular Dystrophy Association at
www.mda.org