Willis E. "Billy" Hardy III passed away at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston from endocarditis on July 22, 2018. He was 41 years of age. Billy was born in Melrose on January 8, 1977 to Willis & Patricia (Rahilly) Hardy. He lived in Melrose with his parents and his sister Bridget. He had three half siblings Tom, Jim and Pam who also resided in Melrose. Billy had a great sense of humor and was always quoting movies and making people laugh. He was an avid sports fan and had a passion for Michael Jordan and Notre Dame Football. In 1993, Billy became a godfather to his nephew Ryan. Billy graduated from Melrose High School, Class of 1995. He worked for several years as security a security guard and later for the Mount Vernon restaurant. He met his longtime partner Joanne Battista in the summer of 2007. In 2012 they had a daughter Olivia. Having Olivia was Billy's greatest joy and he was a devoted father. Billy was the cherished and devoted father of Olivia Hardy. Longtime partner of Joanne Battista of Lynn. Beloved son of Bill & Patricia (Rahilly) Hardy of Melrose. Loving brother of Bridget Hardy of Melrose, Tom Hardy & his wife Ellen of Marshfield, Pam Bukowski & her husband Jason of Andover and the late James Hardy & his wife Laura of Tewksbury. Proud uncle of Ryan Hardy of Melrose, Rachel, Andrea, Christopher, Brooke, Leah Hardy and Jenna & Paige Bukowski. Caring nephew of Paul M. & Thomas Rahilly of Melrose, Charles Hardy of NC & George Hardy & his wife Linda of NJ. Visitation will be held at the Gately Funeral Home, 79 W. Foster St. Melrose, on Thursday, July 26, 2018 from 4:00-8:00PM. A funeral service will be held at the Gately Funeral Home on Friday, July 27th at 10AM, followed by a burial at Wyoming Cemetery in Melrose. Relatives & friends are respectfully invited to attend.