William L. (Bill) McConnell, a Vineyard resident of more than 40 years, died on July 21 while residing at Life Care Center of the North Shore in Lynn after an eight-week-long illness. He was 81.

He was the husband of Gayle D. Stiller of Oak Bluffs.

Bill was born in Champaign-Urbana, Ill. on Dec. 11, 1941, the son of Golden and Margaret Lyon McConnell. He graduated from Peoria High School in 1960 and served in the U.S. Air Force for four years.

After his military service, he lived in the Rocky Mountains above Boulder, Colo. while working at the Ohm Banjo Company and later at Hanson Ski Boot Company. During his Boulder years, his house evolved into a gathering place for many emerging folk and blues musicians, among them Tim O’Brien and Ray Bonneville.

In 1982 Bill brought his carpentry skills to Martha’s Vineyard, where he helped to build an addition onto a friend’s house. Early on he fell for the sea and sailboats – and then for a redhead named Gayle Stiller. With justice of the peace John Alley presiding, they were married on Kuffie’s Point overlooking Lake Tashmoo on June 11, 1983.

A few years later, the couple built their house on Holmes Hole Road in Oak Bluffs where Bill eventually established MV Machine in the lower level of their home. The business later became WLM Models and Patterns.

Bill listened avidly to folk music programs on the Boston radio station WUMB. And despite his midwestern roots, he evolved into a devoted follower of all of the Boston sports teams, especially the Red Sox. He took particular pleasure in their march to the World Series in 2004.

In addition to his wife, Bill leaves his sister, Barb McConnell of Peoria; son Steve McConnell of Caldwell, Ida.; daughter Kim Horton of Princeton, Ill.; and two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

He was predeceased by his parents, stepfather Frank Mayne and his brother John McConnell of Peoria, Ill.

His family asks that friends and acquaintances send contributions in Bill’s memory to WUMB at the University of Massachusetts at Boston, 100 Morrissey Boulevard, Boston, MA. 02125, or online at wumb.org/support-wumb/; or to the Animal Shelter of Martha’s Vineyard at P.O. Box 1829, Edgartown, MA 02539 or online at animalshelterofmv.org/donate. A memorial service will be held privately at a later date.