William "Billy" David Mittan

William David Mittan (Billy) passed away suddenly on January 10, 2018. He was born in Yreka, CA May 12, 1965 to William Albert Mittan and Susan Mittan (now McCurdy) of Fort Jones, California. Billy attended school in Fort Jones and graduated with the last class of Fort Jones High School in 1983. While in high school, he excelled at basketball, tennis, and baseball, and harassing teachers with Sean Kelly and Rusty Fink, those Fort Jones boys! He attended one year of college before beginning his construction career with his uncle, Dale Evans, at Scott Valley Builders. He continued working construction with his cousin Rick Evans at Evans Construction until 2006, when he started his own business, Mittan Construction. In 1989, Billy married Shellee and Ciara Reynolds, and the Mittan family was established. In 1990, Delaney Kay joined the family and they were complete until, in June 2012, Delaney and her husband Rodney gave Billy and Shellee their first grandchild, Isaiah William Grant. Rounding out the flock were Henlee Marie Grant in 2014 and Sydnee Grace Grant in October of 2017. Billy Mittan was a driven man, constantly striving and working to provide a good and safe life for his family. His work ethic and principled character showed in every aspect of his life. He worked hard and then played hard. He played many years of town-team basketball in Fort Jones and Yreka, frustrating many an opponent with his 3-pointers. When he was on, he was on; drive home safely. Billy coached basketball at Yreka High School for 8 years, beginning his career with a very talented freshman boys team. He promised the boys that if they could go undefeated on the season, he would shave his head. They did, and he did. His 2008 girls varsity girls basketball team won the NSCIF championship, which brought him great pride. He was a tough but caring coach, and his players held a special place in his heart. Billy and Shellee enjoyed golfing together in the winter, spring, summer, and fall; not as much in the spring because it "cut into his fishing". His passion, other than his family, was fishing. Creeks, rivers, lakes, seas, and oceans. You name it. His fly fishing cast was a thing of beauty. Billy also enjoyed hunting. He was a billy goat and could out-hike most people. He said it's because he had one speed, same going uphill as in the flats. He loved elk hunting with his friend Craig Stahl and proudly displayed his 2012 Rocky Mountain Elk trophy in the Mittan home. Billy didn't say much, but when he did it was worth listening to. His sense of humor was as strong as his work ethic and fishing passion. There are many "Billy-isms" repeated by many people who spent time with him. Especially his family. His "cat-like reflexes" helped him to be "cagey like that" because "that's how he rolled". When Shellee would compliment him on a project or be amazed by how easy he made things look, he would say "this ain't no hobby". Billy was the rock of his family. Everything he did, he did for them. Everything. His love of his children and grandchildren radiated from his body and they brought him the greatest joy. He and Shellee shared a love that endured ups and downs but was so true and strong, their partnership was unbreakable. Billy is survived by his wife of 28 years, Shellee; his daughter Ciara and her fiancé Rory McHale; his daughter Delaney Grant and son-in-law Rodney Grant; and his grandson Isaiah William Grant and granddaughters Henlee Marie and Sydnee Grace Grant. Also surviving him are his mother Susan McCurdy; sister Pam and husband Dan Rimmer and their children Teal and Colby Rimmer; sister- and brother-in-law Lorilee and Mike Smith, and their children, Chelsea and husband Erik Yergensen, Rhyan and Kyle Smith; brother- and sister-in-law Scott and Stephanie Reynolds and their children Jessica, Derek and Chase Reynolds; his mother- and father-in-law Jerry and Beverlee Reynolds; his uncle Nick Jancich and aunt Pat; cousin Rick Evans and his wife Linda and their children, Tyler and wife Amy, and Cade Evans, and many, many loving friends. He was preceded in death by his father, Bill Mittan, and his step-father, Floyd McCurdy. The family is asking that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Billy Mittan’s name to United Scholarships, Inc. P.O. Box 1328, Yreka, CA 96097, to establish a scholarship to be awarded to a graduating Yreka High School basketball player. The family is hosting a gathering of friends and family to honor this wonderful man on January 20, 2018 at the Yreka Community Center at 2:00 p.m. where stories will be told, "Billy-isms" shared, and a buffet lunch prepared by Penny Palermo, along with beer and wine, will be enjoyed.

William "Billy" David Mittan

May 12, 1965 - January 10, 2018