Garland Willis
Garland Edward Willis, 76, of Middletown died peacefully Friday, March 16, 2018 at his home in Middletown, with his family by his side.
Funeral services were at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday (today) at the Hopewell Baptist Church in rural Wellsville. The Rev. Nathan Payne officiated. Serving as organist was Mary Ellen Wilkinson. Burial was in Fairmount Cemetery in Middletown.
Visitation was from 5-8 p.m., Monday at the church.
Services were under the direction of Myers Funeral Home in Middletown.
Mr. Willis was born Aug. 28, 1941, in rural New Hartford, a son of Otto and Ruth Maureen Reese Willis. On July 28, 1963 at the First Baptist Church in Vandalia, he married Sandra Kay DeLancey. They celebrated over 54 years of marriage together, living most of their married life in the Middletown area, the last six years at their current address.
Garland had worked for 41 years at Harbison-Walker Refractories in Vandalia. He worked in the maintenance department as a welder, retiring in 2005.
He was a member of Hopewell Baptist Church in rural Wellsville, former member of the Lions Club in Middletown, Middletown Fire Department, Khoury League Coach and Spencer Creek Coon Hunting Club.
Garland was a lifelong hunter and fisherman, using his skills as a means of providing for his family. Later in life he then turned hunting and fishing out of necessity into a pastime and excuse to enjoy the outdoors with family and friends. He was a hard worker, he liked to garden and was a meticulous lawn man. Garland was a friend to many and loved nothing more than to share stories with his friends and family. His pride and joy was his family and the time he got to spend with them.
Survivors include his wife, Sandra Kay “Sandy” Willis, of the home in Middletown; daughters, and sons-in-law, Tammera Kay “Tammy” and David Smith, of Foristell, Cheryl Annette and Rick Blaue, Wellsville and Michelle Lynn and Jeffery Fort, of Auxvasse; six grandchildren, Lindsay Danielle Johnson and husband, Darren, of Moberly, Bryan David Smith, of Fayette, Nichole Danielle Bondy and husband, Paul, of Brunswick, Branden Dale Blaue, of Wellsville, Alexandria Lynn Fort, of Mexico and Rachel Deanne Fort of Auxvasse; four great-grandchildren, Charlotte Marlene Johnson and Maggie Grace Johnson, of Moberly, Layne Paul Bondy, of Brunswick and Kaysen Michael McCandless, of Mexico; sisters, Lena Esther Woodward, of New Florence and Imogene “Jean” Eastman, of Louisiana; sisters-in-law, Kay Willis and Pauline Willis, of Mexico and Dorothy Willis Turner, of Springfield; in addition to numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents; siblings, Charles Thomas Willis, Clara Louise Willis, Walter Kenneth Willis, Otto Major Willis, Wilma Marie Willis and Orville Lewis Willis.
Serving as pallbearers were Branden Blaue, Bryan Smith, Paul Bondy, Darren Johnson, Nick Scott and Melvin “Whitey” Turner. Honorary pallbearers will be Bill Blaue, Dale Blaue, Tony Heim, Norman Heim, Don Sprouls and Jerry Williams.
Memorial contributions are suggested to Angelman Syndrome Foundation, Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital c/o Myers Funeral Home, 203 East Bates Street, Wellsville, MO 63384.
Expressions of sympathy may be made to the family at www.myersfuneralhome.biz.
