Coach Bill Feaster, 90, passed away quietly in his sleep on June 21. He was born on September 27, 1931, in Casper, Wyoming, the eldest son of William Feaster and Esther Klahr Feaster. Bill moved with his family from Salt Creek, Wyoming to Ville Platte, Louisiana when he was 7 years old. He graduated from Ville Platte High School and later received degrees from Southwestern Louisiana Institute and Louisiana State University.

First Lieutenant Feaster served nearly four years in the Air Force, stationed in California, Alabama, and Texas, before returning to Ville Platte in 1957 to begin his coaching and teaching career. Over the next three decades, he worked as a high school teacher, coach, guidance counselor and principal at schools in Ville Platte, Vidrine, Elizabeth, Mamou, Welsh, and Oakdale. He coached football, basketball, baseball and track, and spent his summers coaching Little League or American Legion baseball when he wasn't working summer jobs at the rice dryer or YMCA, or taking graduate classes at LSU, Ole Miss or Montana State.

After retiring, Bill and wife Raynell decided to explore the country, spending time in Colorado, Wyoming, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Texas, and at least a half-dozen cities and towns in Louisiana. They found new neighbors and adventures everywhere they went, and greatly enjoyed the friendships they made along the way.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents and his sisters Arlene Feaster Carter Sylvester and Cara Feaster Coe. He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Raynell Feaster, brother John Feaster, son Jim Feaster and wife Paula, daughter Chris LaFleur and husband Tim, son Gary Feaster and wife Phyllis, and son David Feaster and wife Shelly, along with 14 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 25, at 11:00 a.m. at First Baptist Church of Ville Platte, 815 Chicot Park Rd, Ville Platte, LA 70586.