William Kenneth Bayert

William Kenneth Bayert August 17, 1951 – August 6, 2025 Woodbridge, Virginia – William Kenneth Bayert, 73, of Woodbridge, Virginia, and formerly of Bonners Ferry, Idaho, and Ironton, Ohio, passed away peacefully on August 6, 2025, with his wife, Nicole, and daughter, Anna, by his side, following a brave and dignified struggle with pancreatic cancer. Bill was the beloved husband of Nicole Doucette Bayert, whom he married on October 25, 1997, in Alexandria, Virginia. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his daughter, Anna Fink (and her mother), son-in-law Erec Fink, and grandsons Max and Sam Fink. Bill also leaves behind his loving siblings: sister Bethany (Glenn) Mara and their children Nathan (Tara), Andrew (Chloe), and Kathryn (Adam); brother Robert (Lynne) Bayert and their daughter Kimberly (José) Rosas and granddaughter Isabella; as well as his sister-in-law Allene Doucette, brother-in-law William Casler, and nephew Alastair Casler. Bill was born in Ironton, Ohio, on August 17, 1951, to William Bayert and Mary Margaret Barron Bayert, both of whom preceded him in death. He graduated from Ironton High School in 1969, where he was an athlete, lettering in both baseball and basketball. Bill earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Marshall University in 1973 and went on to receive his Juris Doctor degree from Capital University School of Law in 1977. He was a member of both the Idaho and Ohio Bar Associations. His distinguished legal career spanned 35 years. Bill began as a private attorney and county prosecutor in Bonners Ferry, Idaho, before spending over 26 years with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He worked in the Real Estate Directorate and Office of the Chief Counsel in both the Huntington District in West Virginia and at Corps Headquarters in Washington, D.C. It was during a meeting of the Corps of Engineers’ Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors in 1992 that Bill first met Nicole, and their partnership was built on a shared love for both work and life. Bill was passionate about the outdoors and dedicated much of his time after retirement to environmental causes. He completed a course of study with the Virginia Cooperative Extension to become a certified Master Gardener, focusing on incorporating native plants into his landscape to create habitats for wildlife. His home was proudly recognized as an Audubon at Home Wildlife Sanctuary, where he nurtured at least 10 species of sanctuary birds and animals. An avid fly fisherman, Bill found joy not only in the serenity of the sport — the rhythmic whisper of the line unfurling, the quiet communion with flowing water — but also in its exhilaration. His heart would leap at the sudden, electric tug on the line, the wild dash of a fish testing his skill, the dance of give-and-take played out in the current. For Bill, each cast was both meditation and adventure, a blend of stillness and thrill that mirrored his love for life itself. Through his travels, he forged lasting friendships with fellow anglers from around the world, bound together by shared waters and shared stories. Bill’s intelligence was quiet but keen, reflected in the thoughtful questions he asked and the careful attention he gave to every conversation. Humble in his achievements and kind in spirit, he made people feel seen, heard, and valued. His warm, engaging manner drew people in, and his genuine curiosity about others created bonds that endured. Whether talking with a lifelong friend or a stranger he had just met, Bill had a gift for making connections that left people feeling richer for having known him. Above all, Bill treasured time spent with his family, often combining his love of nature and fishing with his cherished loved ones. His legacy of kindness, humor, humility, and unwavering love for his family, friends, and the environment will be deeply missed. A memorial service will be held at Miller Funeral Home, 3200 Golansky Blvd, Woodbridge, VA 22192, on September 6, 2025, at 2:00 p.m.; visiting hours start at 1:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Bill’s memory to one of his favorite causes: Trout Unlimited, Save Bristol Bay, World Central Kitchen, or Friends of the Rappahannock.

Tributes

William Kenneth Bayert

August 17, 1951 - August 6, 2025