Leroy Willard

Elmer Leroy Willard was born on May 12, 1944 in Yale, Oklahoma to Elmer Willard and Neva Cargill Willard. He passed from this life on Sunday, October 20, 2013 in Stillwater, Oklahoma having reached the age of 69 years, 5 months, and 8 days. He moved to Jal, New Mexico from 1957 until 1962 where he graduated from High School. He married the love of his life, Beverly Henry, on December 5, 1964 and they have been together for 49 years, and he said he would love her always. He was in the National Guard, 45th Infantry Division, for fifteen years, was a Volunteer Firefighter for twenty years, and served on the Pawnee City Council for eight years. He was an auto mechanic and listened to the motor to figure out the problem. He restored and painted Pawnee’s 1928 fire truck. He also made sure his children knew how to drive a stick shift car, change a tire, and check the oil. He loved music and would D. J. dances for Pawnee High School. He loved going to the City Swimming Pool with his children where he introduced them to lifeguard drenching and cannon ball dives. He was a diehard OU Sooner fan, and Oakland Raiders fan. Besides owning and operating Leroy’s Auto Service he has been an auto mechanic for the Ford and Chevrolet Dealerships when they were in Pawnee, he has worked for the Cimarron Turnpike, and at the time of his death was a Security Guard for the Pawnee Nation Casino. Leroy is survived his wife, Beverly, two daughters, Shaun Rhay and her husband, Evan, and Sherri Southward and her husband, Dr. Barry; son, Christopher Willard; grandchildren, Brien Willard Southward and Brittany Venable; sisters, Linda Kukuk and her husband, Jim, Pam Lockhart and her husband, Allen; brother, Jerry Willard and his wife, Ruth; sister-in-law, Lanette Henry, plus a number of nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, and many friends and extended family. Services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, October 24, 2013 at the First Baptist Church of Pawnee with Rev. Michael Brien officiating. Interment will be at Highland Cemetery, Pawnee, Oklahoma.