And Death Shall have No Dominion

By Dylan Thomas

And death shall have no dominion.
Dead mean naked they shall be one
With the man in the wind and the west moon;
When their bones are picked clean and the clean bones gone,
They shall have stars at elbow and foot;
Though they go mad they shall be sane,
Though they sink through the sea they shall rise again;
Though lovers be lost love shall not;
And death shall have no dominion.

And death shall have no dominion.
Under the windings of the sea
They lying long shall not die windily;
Twisting on racks when sinews give way,
Strapped to a wheel, yet they shall not break;
Faith in their hands shall snap in two,
And the unicorn evils run them through;
Split all ends up they shan't crack;
And death shall have no dominion.

And death shall have no dominion.
No more may gulls cry at their ears
Or waves break loud on the seashores;
Where blew a flower may a flower no more
Lift its head to the blows of the rain;
Through they be mad and dead as nails,
Heads of the characters hammer through daisies;
Break in the sun till the sun breaks down,
And death shall have no dominion.

At the San Francisco Arts Fair in the early 70's.
Left to right--
Bill, Diana Lynn, Terry Butler, Marsha Correll

Aboard the Katie K in Alaska, circa 1976.
A legendary deck hand!
Thanks to Tom Blymyer of Mt. Vernon WA

Photographed at Tom Blymyer's wedding in 1986.
Left to right--
Ted Thorson, Bill, Tom Blymyer
Owen Blymyer, Trenton Blymyer

Bill's obituary as printed in the Cedar Rapids Gazette

WILLIAM JAMES (BILL) ELIAS

William James Elias, 63, of Richland, WA (formerly of Cedar Rapids), died unexpectedly on Tuesday, July 5, 2011. Bill was born on March 18, 1948 to Robert J. and Margaret P. (Shanahan) Elias in Cedar Rapids. Bill was preceded in death by his parents and is survived by his three brothers, Clair L. (Linda) Scott of Tucson, AZ, Thomas P. (Sue) Elias of Cedar Rapids and Charles F. Elias of Lake Havasu City, AZ, in addition to an extended family of aunts, uncles, many cousins and nieces and close friend Terry Butler.

Bill had an independent and adventuresome spirit, traveling extensively throughout the United States, Alaska and Mexico. After graduation from LaSalle High School in Cedar Rapids in 1966, he traveled to California and worked as the Equipment Manager for the Elvin Bishop Group, a popular Blues & Rock band that toured constantly. His next adventure took him to Alaska and where he became a King Crab fisherman, working on various boats venturing out on the Bering Sea. Bill lived in Alaska for a number of years and traveled during the off-seasons, living for a time in Hawaii and Mexico City. He then moved to Washington and was employed by the US Postal Service. He eventually returned to Cedar Rapids, where he trained with IBEW Local 405 to become an electrician. Bill returned to Washington and worked as an electrician/instrument technician until his passing. He was a member of IBEW Local 112 in Kennewick, WA and a Charter Member of the Patrick J. Shanahan VFW Post 788 Men’s Auxiliary in Cedar Rapids.

Bill was a big man and he had an even bigger heart. He was always willing to help out his family and his friends in any way he could. Bill was a gentle counselor and a friend to all in need as well. He was loved by many and will be sorely missed.

Memorial services are pending. You are invited to post remembrances online at http://beatbillium.blogspot.com. Memorials may be sent to Clair Scott, 38231 S. Desert Bluff Drive, Tucson, AZ 85739

Oil Painting by Bill Elias. Early 70's San Francisco. 12" X 12"

Bill must be around 7 in this shot?

Thanks to Bill's niece Tracy for this photo

The Elias Brothers: Scott and Bill, Tom and Chuck
Thanks to Sheri Dvorak, Bill's niece, for this photo