GENE WILLET

LAMAR-A graveside funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, at Memory Gardens Cemetery for Eugene Herbert Willet, 90, Lamar, who died Friday night, Feb. 24, 2017, at Truman Healthcare Center, following a long illness. Pastor Elvin Winans will officiate. Full military honors will be conducted by the U.S. Navy Honors Team and Lamar VFW Post 3691.

Visitation will be held from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, at Daniel Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions are suggested to American Cancer Society, in care of the funeral home.

Condolences and memories may be shared at www.danielfuneralhome.net.

Survivors include two daughters, Jean Alaire Harrison and Thelma Forkner and her partner, Bill Cackley, all of Lamar; three sons, Robert Willet and wife Nancy, Austin, Texas, Michael Willet and wife Brenda, Branson and Brian Willet, Independence; two brothers, Marvin Willet and Gaylord Willet and wife Pam, all of Lamar; two sisters, Ruby Poe and husband Wayne, Lamar and Pauline Nickolson and partner Marvin, Clarksville, Ark.; 16 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his his wife Ruth of more than 53 years on March 26, 2003; a daughter, Joyce Ann Hyche and three brothers, Melvin, Edward and Robert.

Mr. Willet was born Nov. 7, 1926, at the family farm in the Newport community, to Earl and Nora (Archer) Willet. At the age of 17 he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving on the USS Austin in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Returning to the states in 1946, he worked in shipyards and logging in the northwest for several years. It was there that he met the love of his life, Ruth Alaire Moore and they were married on November 26, 1949, in Ajlune, Wash. In 1951, they moved back to Missouri where he was a telegrapher and depot agent for the Frisco Railroad for 28 years. Many in Lamar will remember him by his CB handle, “Railroader” or by the bicycle they bought or had repaired at Willet's Bike Shop. After retiring in 1981, he enjoyed “treasure hunting” with a metal detector or sharing the abundance of his vegetable garden with family and friends.