William Dean Mahoney

William (Bill) Dean Mahoney, age 97 of Fort Collins, passed away peacefully on Monday, April 7th.

Bill was born in Bunkerhill, KS to Robert and Ida Mahoney. Bill, along with three brothers, Robert, Martin and Francis, were raised on the family farm near Bunkerhill. Bill participated in sports throughout his school years. He excelled as a baseball pitcher. Bill met Lois Highfill while she worked as a carhop. The two immediately fell in love and married in Russell, KS on August 2, 1950. The couple celebrated 73 years of marriage in August of 2023.

Bill and Lois spent the first 10 years of their marriage in Kansas but fell in love with Colorado when visiting the state for their honeymoon. Bill's record-breaking catch (at that time) of a 19lb. 12 oz German Brown trout at Horsetooth reservoir expedited the move! Bill and Lois moved to Fort Collins in 1964.

Bill earned a degree in education from Fort Hays State College, Hays, KS. He went on to teach and coach in Victoria and Ellinwood, KS. Bill continued his education, earning a master's degree in education at CSU. Bill taught and coached basketball at Windsor and Wellington CO. He finished his teaching and coaching careers at Lesher JR. High in Fort Collins.

Bill and Lois loved spending time at their mountain cabin watching wildlife, hiking or sitting on the cabin deck enjoying the beauty. Bill's love for nature was passed down to his children and grandchildren. Bill worked for the Colorado Fish and Game department during his summer teaching break, building fences in the Rocky Mountains. The mountains were his happy place.

During retirement the couple traveled extensively, visiting Iceland, Ireland and enjoying a Baltic cruise. Bill and Lois gifted their children and spouses a Caribbean cruise to celebrate their 50th anniversary. Wonderful, once in a lifetime, family memories were made. They traveled within the US, east coast to west coast, seeing sights in Washington DC and visiting children and grandchildren in the Pacific Northwest. Their adventures took them to Hawaii and on a road trip down the ALCan highway through Alaska and Canada. They were snowbirds for several years, wintering in Green Valley, AZ.

Bill is survived by his children Teri Walker, husband Rex, Ault CO, Pat Mahoney, wife Anne of Colton, WA and Laura Whitmore, husband Troy, Brighton, CO; seven grandchildren, twelve great grandchildren; and brother Francis Mahoney of Stockton, KS.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 am, Monday, April 14, 2025, at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Parish, 5450 S. Lemay Ave., Fort Collins, CO 80525. Internment immediately follows at Grandview Cemetery in Fort Collins. A celebration of life for both Lois, who passed on December 22, 2023, and Bill, will be held at noon on Monday, 14th at Hilton Garden Inn, 2821 E. Harmony Rd., Fort Collins, CO 80528

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Better People Care, PO Box 270425, Fort Collins, CO 80525. Better People Care staff's knowledge, respect, support and friendship have been invaluable to the Mahoney family for the past 6 years.