William Albert Archer, Jr. Resident of Livermore, CA William was born in Oakland, CA to the late William A. Archer and Dorothy Morris. Bill as he was known by his family as “Billy Jr.” grew up in San Lorenzo, CA and attended Linda Vista elementary and Bohanan middle school in San Lorenzo. He graduated high school at Sunset High in Hayward in 1964 and attended Chabot College in Hayward. He went to work for PG&E right out of high school and was eventually transferred from reading meters into the business office in Livermore and assisted the location manager with customer service. Bill worked for PG&E until his father asked him to come work for him at his janitorial business in Oakland. Bill worked for the family business, Keene-Sanitary Supply about 30 years until he became the Director of Religious Education at St. Michael Church. After a year as the DRE the pastor asked him to be the business administrator. He managed the church and school, but also was involved with the building of the new St. Michael School and the retrofit of the church. He was instrumental in getting the church a free building for the Faith Formation Teens by working with the Livermore School District and contacting them daily. He was good at bargaining and bartering. He was always able to get a good deal for anything he set his mind to. He retired as business administrator in 2017 in that capacity and stayed on as a Pastoral Associate and continued with his ministry as a Deacon. Bill was ordained a deacon in February 1995 by Bishop Cummings and was excited to start on his new ministry. In his formation he and the others in his class had to practice the sacraments. One occasion he had to practice baptizing a baby, so he volunteers his newborn grandson as a prop. His grandson was a good baby and never fussed, and very blessed after all the practicing pouring water on his head. Bill had fun with the other deacons on retreats and workdays and in the deacon small groups. As a deacon he was able to help the deacon community with his leadership and was elected the President of the Diaconate in 2003 and was able to assist with the installation of Bishop Vigneron and was the Deacon of the Word for that occasion. It was one of the most humble duties he was privileged to do. He was very active in community events such as the Rodeo Parade, The Maid of Livermore contest, The Livermore Jaycees, the Livermore Airshow, Torch Run, the Livermore Police and more. He was made a Police Chaplain in 2015 and served in that capacity. He helped with the Livermore Police Citizen Academy training. Bill grew up respecting the Police as his grandfather was a police officer and his uncle a fire chief in Marin County. In the Citizen’s academy in Livermore, Bill got to know officers and the police chief. He was good at listening to any police officer or employee of the department if they needed to vent or just shoot the breeze. Bill had a dry sense of humor and would play pranks on many. Bill had a serious side to him as well and helped as police chaplain with calls out at any time of the day or night. He would go to help those grieving with the death of a loved one at home, hospital, nursing home or wherever he was asked to go help. He worked alongside of fellow officers with fundraisers for kids backpacks at Walmart, the Rodeo parade set up and was asked to ride in a police car with the chief at the parade downtown. He felt a great honor to be able to assist and give back to Livermore and his Church community. He was an avid fan of the Oakland Raiders and started in high school helping with seating people and handing out programs for the games before there was an actual stadium. He was very disappointed when the Raiders left for LA and was excited when they came back to Oakland. In 1995 he was ordained a permanent deacon for the Diocese of Oakland and was placed at St. Michael to serve. He served under several pastors and helped wherever he was asked to assist. In his capacity as deacon, he did many baptisms, weddings, funerals, house blessings, and visiting the sick at hospitals and homes. He was president of the Oakland Diaconate in 2003 and worked under the new Bishop, Allen Vigneron and was honored to be the deacon at his installation. He was very dedicated to his ministry. Bill leaves behind his wife, Jayne and children, William III, Jeffery, Kevin, Daniel, Julia, Janelle and Barbara; his sister, Peggy Dee Porter, nephews and their families. He was preceded in death by his son, Bryan and daughter Sybil. Funeral vigil is on Thursday, October 5th at St. Michael Church, 458 Maple Street, Livermore, CA starting at 1PM. Funeral mass on Friday, October 6ht at 10AM with burial to follow at St. Michael Cemetery. A reception will follow the burial at St Michael parish hall. If you would like to donate to a charity in Bill’s name, please feel free to do that. Suggestions for donations can be made to Catholic charities, St. Vincent de Paul, Relevant radio, or any favorite Christian charity. Thank you and God bless you all.
