At first, the angels stood behind his bed guarding his every breath. Later, when his breath began to fade, the angels hovered above him, gently lifting his spirit into the heavenly hands of God.
Wills Setzler, 22, passed away Monday, Aug. 16, at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. He was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma in October, 2009.
William Ross Setzler, IV was born Aug. 3, 1988, in San Antonio. He grew up in Early and graduated Early High School in 2006. He proudly attended Texas A&M University and recently dunked his Aggie ring – a time-honored Aggie tradition.
Wills was a happy, fun-loving, fearless young man who stared his cancer squarely in the eye – chin up and never complaining. From day-one of his diagnosis, Wills strapped on his trademark ear-to-ear smile and boldly attacked his disease with that famous Fightin’ Texas Aggie Spirit.
Like most young men who grew up in Texas, Wills loved wide-open spaces… hunting, fishing, swimming and driving his brand-new F-250 King Ranch pickup… a recent gift from his grandparents.
And like many young men, Wills fell in love – head-over-heels – with a beautiful, full-of-life young girl named Danielle Gafken, a recent graduate of Texas Tech University. The two met at a Tech-A&M game in the fall of 2008. After that, inseparable would best describe their relationship.
Danielle was more than simply a girlfriend. She was an angel who attended Wills’s every need – from the moment he was diagnosed to the day he passed away. She will remain a part of our family forever.
Oh, and did we mention football? High school football? Wills was a pigskin fanatic. His senior year at Early High School proved a watershed event for Longhorn fans young and old. Wills and his talented gridiron buddies huddled together one of the most powerful and feared 2A football teams in Early High School history. The ’05 squad – after losing its first game of the season – plowed through the next 12 opponents undefeated gaining a birth in the state 2A semi-final game… the first playoff appearance for an Early football team in 47 years.
Although he left us way too young, Wills never wasted time counting his years on earth. Instead, he packed a life full of fun, love and adventure into every one of his 22 years.
We’ll remember Wills for his warm endearing smile, his loving and compassionate disposition and his throw-it-to-wind, care-free attitude that put everyone at ease.
Wills knows and loves Jesus – his Savior who fed his spirit with the strength and determination to overcome any obstacle.
Wills is survived by the love of his life and guardian angel, Danielle Gafken; parents, Ross and Sue Ann Setzler of Early; sisters, Abigail Setzler of Lewisville, and Bailey Setzler of Lubbock; and brother, Giles Setzler of Early. He also is survived by his grandparents, former state Senator Bill Sims and wife, Sue, of San Angelo, and Bill and Jan Setzler of Wichita Falls. Other survivors include aunts and uncles Billy and Danelle Sims of Paint Rock, and Dale and Nann Harvey of Wichita Falls; and six cousins, Meredith Powell of Camilla, Ga., Jacob Sims of Abilene and Mary Claire, Ross, Grant and Dillard Harvey of Wichita Falls.
The Setzler Family would like to thank the entire community of Brownwood and Early for its caring and loving support and the dedicated medical staff of Scott and White Hospital, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and Dr. Sarah Chandler.
A celebration of Wills’s life will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday at Early First Baptist Church, 103 Garmon Drive. Instead of flowers, please donate your time or money to any organization aligned in the battle against cancer.
