City of Springfield Remarks on Passing of Former Mayor Bill Morrisette

The City of Springfield mourns the passing of former Mayor, State Senator, and lifelong public servant, Bill Morrisette, who died peacefully of natural causes on April 15, 2025.

“Mayor Bill,” as he was affectionately known, dedicated more than five decades to public service and civic engagement in Springfield and across Oregon. From his early years as a social studies teacher at Springfield High School (1966–1990), to serving on the Springfield City Council (1987–1989), as Mayor (1989–1999), and in the Oregon Legislature (1999–2010), Bill’s legacy is one of leadership, education, and commitment to the public good.

During his tenure as Mayor, Bill Morrisette championed regional cooperation and community well-being. He served as President of the Oregon Mayor’s Association (1993), led a Mayor’s Committee focused on permanent emergency and transitional housing, and was an advocate for youth civic engagement through his annual participation in Springfield and Thurston High School’s Model Government Day. He also contributed his time and voice on key regional committees including the Springfield Filbert Festival Steering Committee, Springfield Tomorrow Project and the Lane Regional Air Pollution Authority Board of Directors.

Mayor Sean VanGordon shared, “Bill Morrisette embodied what it means to serve community with compassion and clarity. His work lives on in the civic institutions he helped strengthen, the students he inspired, and the countless lives he touched. He was a true public servant and a pillar of Springfield’s story.”

Bill was born in Anaconda, Montana, and shared 61 years of marriage with his late wife Janice. Together, they raised a large and loving family – eight children, fourteen grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren who carry forward his values and his deep care for community.