I am so completely amazed at the outpouring of love and support and memories friends and family have given my son Billy! He was such a good soul and I was and am proud to be his mom! Thank you all so much. Billy would be so touched, actually he is and he is smiling down on each of us right now. Probably doing a kick flip on his board.
Love, Billy's Mom
Love, Billy's Mom
Hey billy, its mary, will's sister. I am so sorry that the disease took you before your time kid. This was something out of your control and im so sorry i couldn't have helped you, just like will. He missed you until his last days. You did the best for him as im sure he did for you. You both will be missed forever leaving a huge whole for those who loved you most. You were a gifted kid who was misunderstood, and fell victim to the dope , as did william last year in 2022. Maybe the 2 of you are together in heaven tearing up the guitar or skateboarding. Say hi to him 4 me, and keep him close. Im sorry billy truly.
~ Mary
Ill never forget when we used to skate and drive around with savannah. one of the nicest people live ever met in my whole life. i know you look down to check on me occasionally because i can feel it.
~ Thomas
I’ll never forget Billy playing the guitar while John sang to the music he was playing on the beach.
~ Justine R.
Billy was cool he was like an old soul! I can’t even explain the friendship he ended up giving my son! Seriously though, Adam was like 9 at the time. Billy didn’t have to stop by when Adam was out. Billy was always with friends, Billy always made his friends stop. It got to the point that I would take them all to different skate parks. Billy was like Adams mentor. Know matter how much older Billy was then Adam, Billy was like his big brother. He never did our said bad things around him. They shared the love of skateboarding together and that’s where Billy left it! He was one of a kind! He will forever be in our hearts! I can still hear his laugh in my head.
~ Donna H.
I was telling a friend the other day about Billy catching a fish. He wanted to throw it back and I said the only way you can throw it back was to kiss it. And in Billy's sweet lil' way he said..."No problem", kissed the fish and said "LATER DUDE". That was awesome.
~ Uncle Kurt
I think about Billy and Hana on almost a daily basis. There are not a lot of things that don’t remind me of either of them. They were wonderful people and I am so blessed to have known them and grown up with them. If there is ever anything I can do, please do not hesitate to ask.
Peace and love to both Billy and Hana
~ Zack R.
It brought me to tears when I was exploring everything you have put on here! I love you and miss him and Hana dearly!! I will NEVER forget them, and the influence they had on my life as great friends of mine growing up!
~Bobby M.
First off I'm sorry to hear the lost of your son. I couldn't imagine the pain that you are going through. I hope that your story here will touch and open many people's eyes on the addition to the devil drug "Heroin". I lost a very lose friend that was like a little brother to me. So when I was reading this it touched close to home.
RIP to your son's soul and always remember your beautiful Angel above.
~ Ashley
Camping, kayaking, playing guitar, writing poems, drawing, tattooing, jamming to music, going to shows, riding bikes, swimming, skateboarding, meditation/yoga, supporting local artists, teaching/guiding others, loving all animals... just to name a few things Billy enjoyed doing! He had such a good life and found joy in everything he did, and wanted others to experience! He did not take life for granted.
Billy will always be an inspiration to all who met him.
~ A
Billy and I shared a lot of things. We shared a bed. We shared a passion for art. We shared a love for one another. I'm so happy Billy was able to leave his mark on my soul, before he should depart. I will never forget the glorious Time we shared especially. Every waking moment would start with me looking into his beautiful green eyes, which was my motivation to get up & a lot of the times the motive to stay in bed longer. Any amount of time that passed without him in my presence I anticipated seeing him again. My soul was home when we were together. But now his soul has gone to the true Home. The Heavenly home where it shall be for an eternity. We will all see Billy again when it is our time. If you're reading this, I love you. Thank you for taking the time to recognize his life. Let's look at death in a positive light. This is just the death of the body. His soul has just gone on to the next stage of Life! Be happy! Rejoice that he's in a world much better than this muggle Earth our bodies gravitate towards. He's in the Kingdom of Heaven now and it's BEAUTIFUL there. I'll never forget about you Billy. He once drew me a mandala, above it I wrote something for him that still holds truth in my heart.
"There is no measure to how much I love you. The infinite posiBillyties in the most sacred of geometry and even begin to describe the shape of you and I together." Forever.
~ Savannah Rain
I met you after you had met "her". I had no idea for the first 6 months until one night at a party you broke down and told me about her. You told me you weren't worth it, that I should move on and never look back. "Of course not" I said, "I don't care what kind of problem you have. I love you and I will help you get through this."
Time went on and I kept my promise for the most part. I would get a little upset when things went dark, and lose hope that they would ever get better. But what I didn't realize at the time is, we were happy. You made her your problem, no one else's. You tried your best to hide her because you knew how evil she was and didn't want her to do anything to anyone else. You know you needed help but she was always there whispering in your ear, manipulating you. You knew what was good and bad for you and you knew your limits. I just chose not to dig too much into it because I honestly didn't want to know. All I knew was I had a good man beside me, who I would do anything for just to see him smile. I knew you were in bad shape, but you were so good at hiding your pain that I thought you were alright. You went to work, did what you needed to do to survive, and loved with all you had. Everywhere we went, you showed love. You initiated conversation with older men about music. You treated every stranger like a close friend. I watched as your smile made them smile, and your laugh gave them happiness. How could someone like this be taken away? How could someone with this big of a heart, who tried so hard, and did what was best for others, be taken away. Is it because you've served your purpose here on earth? Were you not ready to give her up and life decided to take you before something completely disastrous happened? Whatever the reason may be, I hope it's a good one, because the biggest pain you've caused us is leaving us here without you. I know I only had you in my life for 2.5 years, but that was long enough to think I knew you my whole life.
Thank you for making a difference in mine and everyone elses. You're my biggest inspiration.
~ A
Billy is still one of the few people i ever considered to be a best friend. I remember meeting your family when you guys moved to keego. I had also just moved to keego. I remember the first day i met him, for no reason why we just clicked. We were two different minds but through being his friend, i learn not only how to become more open minded but how to treat others as well. I wish we spent more time together but the time i was given was more then some. And i couldn't trade any second of it. He not only pushed me in skateboarding but also in life. To a lot of people he was more then a friend he was family. Because of that he will always be remembered, loved, and most importantly celebrated. Weather you consider addiction a disease, a mental health problem, or an "excuse". It is still real, and will not hesitate to even consume our brightest, happiest, and most brilliant minds like Billy.
I loved Billy and his story hasn't ended yet, its only begun.
~ AJ
Billy, Billy! Our time..our Savana Rain..your time..her love ! She found her love! I can still see that smile..I remember that sweet soft voice.. it was almost like you didn't want it to be heard..at least out loud. Soft quiet it's gone now..so I am sad angry too .. I trusted you ..so much so that..you Billy gave me my first tattoo. .it was a in the moment a rash decision. .but I knew you being a Dead fan would make something amazing! I went for it..the sound was buzzing..a steal your face ..let's do it! Our friend Andres tripped over the cord screwing up the template. .but You Billy pressed on and later told me that you did the whole thing free hand!!!..and I sucked up the pain.. and what an amazing experience it was fun..we laughed and I was so proud to finally get a tattoo in memory of my dearest friend Steven Ecklund who introduced me to the greatest band.The Grateful Dead .and took his life. I did it for him but moreover, now I did it for you Billy! I have a steal your face I can't explain how it changed my life. BILLY expressed himself through art,music,skate boarding, and his love for my daughter Savana. Love is infinite souls are infinite. .may Billy one day recognize us when we become one too with him together in The Infinite!
Peace love..rain..until we meet again...
~ Asia
❤❤❤ sending love your way. I remember Billy from the time you all lived in Escalon. It was his 6th grade year and I was in 7th. Billy was known for being one of the best skaters at school. (True story)
He used to do kick flips off the El Portal stage before school. Lol
~ Joe Gunn
Love to you all. I will always have a special place in my heart for Billy Burke.💓
~ Nancy Brayton-John
~ Mary
Ill never forget when we used to skate and drive around with savannah. one of the nicest people live ever met in my whole life. i know you look down to check on me occasionally because i can feel it.
~ Thomas
I’ll never forget Billy playing the guitar while John sang to the music he was playing on the beach.
~ Justine R.
Billy was cool he was like an old soul! I can’t even explain the friendship he ended up giving my son! Seriously though, Adam was like 9 at the time. Billy didn’t have to stop by when Adam was out. Billy was always with friends, Billy always made his friends stop. It got to the point that I would take them all to different skate parks. Billy was like Adams mentor. Know matter how much older Billy was then Adam, Billy was like his big brother. He never did our said bad things around him. They shared the love of skateboarding together and that’s where Billy left it! He was one of a kind! He will forever be in our hearts! I can still hear his laugh in my head.
~ Donna H.
I was telling a friend the other day about Billy catching a fish. He wanted to throw it back and I said the only way you can throw it back was to kiss it. And in Billy's sweet lil' way he said..."No problem", kissed the fish and said "LATER DUDE". That was awesome.
~ Uncle Kurt
I think about Billy and Hana on almost a daily basis. There are not a lot of things that don’t remind me of either of them. They were wonderful people and I am so blessed to have known them and grown up with them. If there is ever anything I can do, please do not hesitate to ask.
Peace and love to both Billy and Hana
~ Zack R.
It brought me to tears when I was exploring everything you have put on here! I love you and miss him and Hana dearly!! I will NEVER forget them, and the influence they had on my life as great friends of mine growing up!
~Bobby M.
First off I'm sorry to hear the lost of your son. I couldn't imagine the pain that you are going through. I hope that your story here will touch and open many people's eyes on the addition to the devil drug "Heroin". I lost a very lose friend that was like a little brother to me. So when I was reading this it touched close to home.
RIP to your son's soul and always remember your beautiful Angel above.
~ Ashley
Camping, kayaking, playing guitar, writing poems, drawing, tattooing, jamming to music, going to shows, riding bikes, swimming, skateboarding, meditation/yoga, supporting local artists, teaching/guiding others, loving all animals... just to name a few things Billy enjoyed doing! He had such a good life and found joy in everything he did, and wanted others to experience! He did not take life for granted.
Billy will always be an inspiration to all who met him.
~ A
Billy and I shared a lot of things. We shared a bed. We shared a passion for art. We shared a love for one another. I'm so happy Billy was able to leave his mark on my soul, before he should depart. I will never forget the glorious Time we shared especially. Every waking moment would start with me looking into his beautiful green eyes, which was my motivation to get up & a lot of the times the motive to stay in bed longer. Any amount of time that passed without him in my presence I anticipated seeing him again. My soul was home when we were together. But now his soul has gone to the true Home. The Heavenly home where it shall be for an eternity. We will all see Billy again when it is our time. If you're reading this, I love you. Thank you for taking the time to recognize his life. Let's look at death in a positive light. This is just the death of the body. His soul has just gone on to the next stage of Life! Be happy! Rejoice that he's in a world much better than this muggle Earth our bodies gravitate towards. He's in the Kingdom of Heaven now and it's BEAUTIFUL there. I'll never forget about you Billy. He once drew me a mandala, above it I wrote something for him that still holds truth in my heart.
"There is no measure to how much I love you. The infinite posiBillyties in the most sacred of geometry and even begin to describe the shape of you and I together." Forever.
~ Savannah Rain
I met you after you had met "her". I had no idea for the first 6 months until one night at a party you broke down and told me about her. You told me you weren't worth it, that I should move on and never look back. "Of course not" I said, "I don't care what kind of problem you have. I love you and I will help you get through this."
Time went on and I kept my promise for the most part. I would get a little upset when things went dark, and lose hope that they would ever get better. But what I didn't realize at the time is, we were happy. You made her your problem, no one else's. You tried your best to hide her because you knew how evil she was and didn't want her to do anything to anyone else. You know you needed help but she was always there whispering in your ear, manipulating you. You knew what was good and bad for you and you knew your limits. I just chose not to dig too much into it because I honestly didn't want to know. All I knew was I had a good man beside me, who I would do anything for just to see him smile. I knew you were in bad shape, but you were so good at hiding your pain that I thought you were alright. You went to work, did what you needed to do to survive, and loved with all you had. Everywhere we went, you showed love. You initiated conversation with older men about music. You treated every stranger like a close friend. I watched as your smile made them smile, and your laugh gave them happiness. How could someone like this be taken away? How could someone with this big of a heart, who tried so hard, and did what was best for others, be taken away. Is it because you've served your purpose here on earth? Were you not ready to give her up and life decided to take you before something completely disastrous happened? Whatever the reason may be, I hope it's a good one, because the biggest pain you've caused us is leaving us here without you. I know I only had you in my life for 2.5 years, but that was long enough to think I knew you my whole life.
Thank you for making a difference in mine and everyone elses. You're my biggest inspiration.
~ A
Billy is still one of the few people i ever considered to be a best friend. I remember meeting your family when you guys moved to keego. I had also just moved to keego. I remember the first day i met him, for no reason why we just clicked. We were two different minds but through being his friend, i learn not only how to become more open minded but how to treat others as well. I wish we spent more time together but the time i was given was more then some. And i couldn't trade any second of it. He not only pushed me in skateboarding but also in life. To a lot of people he was more then a friend he was family. Because of that he will always be remembered, loved, and most importantly celebrated. Weather you consider addiction a disease, a mental health problem, or an "excuse". It is still real, and will not hesitate to even consume our brightest, happiest, and most brilliant minds like Billy.
I loved Billy and his story hasn't ended yet, its only begun.
~ AJ
Billy, Billy! Our time..our Savana Rain..your time..her love ! She found her love! I can still see that smile..I remember that sweet soft voice.. it was almost like you didn't want it to be heard..at least out loud. Soft quiet it's gone now..so I am sad angry too .. I trusted you ..so much so that..you Billy gave me my first tattoo. .it was a in the moment a rash decision. .but I knew you being a Dead fan would make something amazing! I went for it..the sound was buzzing..a steal your face ..let's do it! Our friend Andres tripped over the cord screwing up the template. .but You Billy pressed on and later told me that you did the whole thing free hand!!!..and I sucked up the pain.. and what an amazing experience it was fun..we laughed and I was so proud to finally get a tattoo in memory of my dearest friend Steven Ecklund who introduced me to the greatest band.The Grateful Dead .and took his life. I did it for him but moreover, now I did it for you Billy! I have a steal your face I can't explain how it changed my life. BILLY expressed himself through art,music,skate boarding, and his love for my daughter Savana. Love is infinite souls are infinite. .may Billy one day recognize us when we become one too with him together in The Infinite!
Peace love..rain..until we meet again...
~ Asia
❤❤❤ sending love your way. I remember Billy from the time you all lived in Escalon. It was his 6th grade year and I was in 7th. Billy was known for being one of the best skaters at school. (True story)
He used to do kick flips off the El Portal stage before school. Lol
~ Joe Gunn
Love to you all. I will always have a special place in my heart for Billy Burke.💓
~ Nancy Brayton-John
Grateful Dead Bears with Rainbow Photo Source: www.clipart.com (Coolturaikoty)