Sorry it has taken me so long to write, I still can't believe you are gone. Miss you so much my dear, dear friend! Thank you for the true and sincere friendship & laughter over the years. I am truly blessed to have been able to call you my friend for the last 17 years.I will carry your smile and spirit in my heart forever. I hope you are at peace and look forward to seeing you again one day.

All my love,
Margaret

my aquarian friend,
i'm just now hearing this sad news, as i'm out of the loop in austin. my love to you on your journey there. my love to your ones still here. thank you for the memory of your smile , nodding happy dreads, lovely fluid movements. thank you . thank you.

Will,
Not a day goes by that I don't think about you. I will miss you forever. Knowing you for 15 years, just wasn't enough. You were the best friend I ever had. You were truly an angel to me during some of the toughest parts of my life.

I was always so happy to come see you at Wet and gossip, catch-up on the old gang - it's hard to believe all that laughter just won't happen anymore. You were a Prince among men, kind - sly, witty and sexy in your own special way.

I sincerely loved and respected you, - and I know that I will always love you; and I look forward, with great joy, to sharing much laughter with you in heaven. "Bucket"

Will,
Man where do i start.. We have been friends for nearly 25 years!! I dont have nearly enough room here to tell you how much your friendship meant to me. I truely wish i could talk to you one more time. Take care my friend, you are truely missed!!!

Will, I didn't get to know you for long but the time I did get to know you sitting in your chair while you worked your magic was an amazing experience that no one will ever be able to duplicate because you were one of a kind. Your smile and beautiful soul won't be forgotten. My thoughts and prayers are with all your family and friends.

I met Will at Elledge Photographic Lab. We were avid pranksters and always had fun. I have been truly lucky to be a friend of Will's for the last 12 years. My wife and I will miss him for the rest of our days, and will be eternally sorry we never got around to those steak dinners with he and Rachel.

We will always remember your ability to make each person you talked to feel important. Your smile, like so many have said, was contagious. Your talent extended not only to your work, but in the way you brought happiness to people just by conversation. You will truly be missed, Will. Our deepest condolences to your family and to those who knew and loved you most.

Sandi Schindel

Will, you were one of the first people I met when I moved to Austin and you brought much joy and laughter to my life, and one of the best haircuts ever. You are one in a million and you will be missed.

Every time I played pool with you or against you, you raised my level of joy. I wish you had given me the chance to return the favor. You are loved and you will be missed.

Dear Sweet Willie,
My little brother, but bigger than me to teach me so many things about happiness. I miss you so much, my heart aches. But I know your smile will keep me going. I will never forget the time in Vegas when you were swinging ;your arms in circles singing "I've got spurs that jingle jangle jingle. People thought we were crazy, which we are. That was so funny I had to run to the bathroom. And when we were leaving the casino, and you empty coin bag you dragged like you had alot of money. We were laughing so hard, but that one lady wasn't. And I have read about the smell my finger bit on your site. I remember that. You nut. The good times are coming back to me now, I'm trying really hard to smile, but sometimes the pain is so incredible. But I know that we will all see you one day. I love you bunches little Willie. See you in the great lights of color soon.

I love you,

your sister

I heard it through the grapevine, Will. And I’m so glad that’s how the news came to me. Here in this little city we’ve gotten lives much hurries. We spin around in our swirling Austin trajectories, many of which link solidly to you and your love of twisting some chaos into growing, solid bonds. The first time I slowed my life down to a reasonable pace – what we now call a breather – I met a total stranger who bore some sad news.

What could better attest to the scope of Will’s joyful presence? The good man was a warm lamp who illuminated a lot of corners all around.

Two total strangers in casual transience uttered your name in the first few sentences of a pleasant conversation, one had not heard you’d passed on and the other shared just one final piece of your storied life. Even though Will is no longer leaving footprints, he’s still bringing people together.

My deepest sympathies to the O'Connell family. Although I have not seen Will for sometime, he is one that I have thought of often, and thought forsure I would see again. He will be truly missed by many.

will, you were truly a light in the world. you will forever be in my heart and prayers.

On behalf of everyone here with Wella, we wish our deepest condolences to Will's family, friends, and to everyone at Wet salon.
Being able to work with Will for the last 7 years was such a pleasure. He was always the first one to greet me with that big smile when I walked into Wet salon. You were so talented, and creative...you were always teaching ME creative ways to use our products. I will miss so much your smile, big hugs, and your sincerity. I was so excited and honored for you to come on board with us and be our educator for our region.
We will see one another again..be at peace sweet one.

My condolences to the O'Connell family, I am truly sorry. Will was a great guy and a great pool player, and this was very untimely. You will always be remembered Will.

Barbara, our deepest sympathy to you and all your family.
May God give you the peace that passes all understanding that only He can give, at this time of the loss of your precious baby.
How we remember Willie , when we first met you he was but a child, and how him and Abel are the same age. We will always remember his smile and though we hadn't seen him in years, when we did,it was if it had just been yesterday, he was always very polite and remembered the RA's with the group and Blue. Willie will forever remain in our memory . Thank you and Willie for passing through our life . From our family to yours God bless you and may His healing grace be with you always.
Blue and Neomi

To sit in Will's chair was to know him. To know him was to love him. To know him for seven years makes it impossible to imagine life without him. Thank you, Will, for changing lives everytime someone sat in your chair, everytime you smiled, everytime you laughed or made a joke. You prepared me for so many different changes in life and for that, I thank you. I guess you prepared me for this change, too. I am so grateful to have seen you on Friday. I am so grateful to have seen your smile so recently, to have hugged you so tightly. I know that where ever you are, you're certainly not cleaning Halloween paint off of windows.

I just read the October 11 paper and cannot summon the words to express my shock and sorrow. The memory of your gentle spirit and easy smile lives on. You have gone to Him and He will give you rest.
You are loved sweet boy.
Liz

Bill,

Sincerest sympathies on your loss.

Sam

Tuesday morning Rachel showed me two pictures she had and you were beautiful. I asked her to take it to the funeral home to be used in the paper. When I saw the picture at the funeral home, it was nothing like what I had seen. I had seen a huge smile just like you have had all your life. Your hair was about neck length, full and dark. I believe you visited me to assure me that all is well with your soul.

I love you so much. Thank you for being such a blessing in my life, my son.

I feel so fortunate to have known Will. The loss is devastating for so many.

My heart and thoughts go out to his family and everyone who had the pleasure of knowing him. Just to know him made the world a more artistic, brilliant, and fun place. There will be a place in my heart forever.

my sweetheart, my savior of hair disasters, my confindante, many years have passed since i laid my baby boy in your arms the first time and you smiled so sweetly at us, i know the world will be a little bit dimmer without your megawatt smile, my hair may never be the same and i know my heart will never heal...i know brandon is heartbroken and hurting...rachel, i'm sorry...goodbye my sunshine, i love you, rest in peace

Will, thank you for allowing me the chance to know you. I will always remember your laugh and goofy personality. I'm so sorry for the pain you were going through; I hope you have found your peace. Know that we all love you and will miss you terribly.

Rachel, I'm so sorry for your loss. I know you'll find the strength to carry on. My thoughts are with you.

Family and Friends, my deepest sympathies to you.

Oh sweet William!
Your smile, your bright eyes, your infectious laugh, your wonderful hugs. How will Wet ever be the same without you?

Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, may God's peace and your memories comfort you.

The sun doesn't shine as brightly any more. Rest in peace, sweet boy.

Barbara Berkeley
Marshall Alexander
Jennifer Hoffman

I went to Beauty School with Will in Austin, He will be missed & remembered as a good friend & Fanastic hair dresser.