William Michael McCaffrey

William Michael McCaffrey, 87, of Lawrence, Kansas, passed away on October 15, 2026, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital. He went peacefully and in his own time, which was his way.

William was born on January 8, 1939, in Emporia, Kansas, to Cleve and Marie (Workman) McCaffrey. He attended St. John’s Catholic School and Lawrence High School, where he made lifelong friends and developed a passion for motorcycles. Films such as The Wild One and Rebel Without a Cause were among his favorites. He also played football until his senior year, when he decided to “hang up his jockstrap.” The highlight of his brief football career was catching a pass from John Hadl, a feat he remained fond of bragging about for the rest of his life.

After high school, William helped start the Wheel Sport motorcycle club with a group of good friends. He also dreamed of becoming an actor. So, after graduation, he and his friends piled into a car and headed west to California. He worked at service stations and attended casting calls, hoping to make it in Hollywood. When that didn’t quite pan out, he returned home, where he landed a role as an extra in the horror classic Carnival of Souls. He can be spotted giving the lead actress elevator eyes during the film’s famous bridge scene.

In his late teens, William realized his draft number would soon be called. Never one to enjoy being cold and miserable, he devised a plan: he went to the draft office and volunteered early, hoping to avoid basic training during the winter months. Unfortunately, his plan backfired when he came down with pneumonia and was put on hospital bed rest. Once he recovered, he had to start basic training all over again. During his Army service, he trained with an airborne combat military police unit. Despite what some might have assumed, he never jumped out of a plane and was never trained to do so. His proudest military memory was serving as a security guard at James Meredith’s door at the University of Mississippi.

After being honorably discharged from the Army, William was hired as a dispatcher for the Lawrence Police Department. Before long, he became a patrolman and was on the job when riots erupted on the KU campus and throughout Lawrence. He later became a detective and crime scene investigator. William took great pride in serving his country and community. He enjoyed helping people and approached his work with a strong sense of duty.

In 1976, William married Carol Lorraine Eller. After three years of wedded bliss, his life was “ruined” by the arrival of his only child, “that he knows of,” Michael.

William turned out to be an exceptionally gifted father. He selflessly gave his free time to his son, spoiled him rotten, and regularly rented him R-rated horror movies while he was still underage. He also demonstrated remarkable patience and flexibility when Michael turned out to be an artist of all things.

William retired from the Lawrence Police Department in 1991, at the age of 52, and promptly embarked on his next career as an entrepreneur. He started two businesses: Investigations, a private investigation service, and Mike’s Vintage Bikes. He developed a knack for persuading unsuspecting little old ladies to part with the remains of forgotten motorcycles, affectionately known as “barn queens”. He enjoyed riding these decrepit motorcycles around in the back of his truck and showing them off before eventually partially refurbishing them and reselling them. William had a particular fondness for old things, old motorcycles, and old stories.

During this period, he also began working part-time as a security guard at the Spencer Museum of Art at the University of Kansas. He absolutely cherished the job. He loved being surrounded by art and enjoyed spending time with and interacting with the many young people who passed through the museum. His security skills, however, were highly suspicious as he was often spotted snoozing in one of the gallery chairs.

After ten years at the Spencer, William retired yet AGAIN.

These were his true golden years. He adopted his bestest new friend, a Labrador retriever mix puppy named Huney, and the two became inseparable. Nearly every day, they could be found at Clinton Lake, with William driving and drinking coffee while Huney either ran alongside the truck for a “romp and chomp” or rode proudly in the passenger seat. Quite the attractive couple.

William also enjoyed sitting at the bar at Free State on Friday evenings, drinking oatmeal stout, and spending his Saturdays visiting—and occasionally annoying—folks at the farmer’s market.

In 2013, the peace and quiet of his life was ruined YET AGAIN when his 34-year-old son moved back to Lawrence to teach at KU. During this time, his son kept him busy (and well fed), forcing him to serve as a model and muse for his paintings and drawings.

William was an artist in his own right. He loved to draw, especially the trees around the lake, and kept a studio in his home. He rarely went anywhere without a sketchbook. He regularly donated artwork to the Lawrence Arts Center art auction and was a member of the Lawrence Art Guild and participated in many of their exhibitions.

He also made frequent trips to Ridgedale, Missouri, to visit friends, ride motorcycles, drink beer, and tell lies. He volunteered with Wildcare, the animal rehabilitation service operated by the University of Kansas, and loved animals of all kinds, especially cats.

William is survived by his son, Michael McCaffrey; nieces Nancy Hickam Hunt, Janet Hickam Bogart, Susan Hickam, his nephew Robert Hickam Smith; his four cats, Norton #2, Tux, Zenda, and Glenda; and his grand cats, Grumbles, Leo, Florence, and Murray.

He is preceded in death by his parents Cleve McCaffrey, Marie McCaffrey (Workman), his brother Patrick McCaffrey, his sister Mary Lee McCaffrey Hickam, his nephew Gregory Hickam, and his “first ex-wife” Carol.

A visitation will take place on Friday October 23, 2026, from 5:00pm to 7:00pm at Warren-McElwain Mortuary, 120 W. 13th Street, Lawrence, KS 66044. A Celebration of Life will take place on Saturday October 24, 2026, at 2:00pm also at Warren-McElwain Mortuary.

Those wishing to honor William’s memory may make donations to the following organization: Lawrence Humane Society