SOUTH PARIS — William F. Guy Sr., 81, of South Paris, died unexpectedly Saturday, Sept. 11., after a brief illness.

He was born April 10, 1929, the son of Ernest Hodgkins of Roxbury and Pauline Ellingwood. He was the adopted son of Murray and Lura Guy, of Byron.

He is survived by his wife, Patricia E. (Wade) Guy; his sons, William F. Guy Jr. of South Paris and Charles Guy of Mechanic Falls; a stepdaughter, Roseanna (McCaffrey) Abbott of Dixfield; two sisters, Elizabeth Richard of Colebrook, N.H., and Georgia Flint of South Paris; two adopted sisters, Ethelyn Haskell of East Gish and Gail Arsenault of Byron; four grandchildren; and two stepgrandchildren.

He was predeceased by his parents; and his brother, George Guy, of Auburn.

Independent by nature, Big Bill, as he was affectionately known, chose not to have a funeral or any of the trappings of a traditional service. He will be cremated and the ashes will be scattered by the immediate family at a site of his choosing.