Willard J. Whitmire

Willard J. Whitmire, 80, of Bay died Monday, May 14, 2007, at St. Bernards Medical Center. He was born in Bunney, Arkansas (near Lake City) and had lived in the Jonesboro area for the past seventeen years, moving here from Rockford, Illinois.

He was a WWII Army veteran and retired from the Illinois Housing Authority. He was preceded in death by his wife, Elsie Whitmire; parents, Charley and Oda Whitmire; one son, Roger Whitmire; three sisters and one great grandchild.

He is survived by his sons and daughters-in-law, Danny and Brenda Whitmire; Tommy and Pattie Whitmire, both of Jonesboro; Dennis and Pat Whitmire, Bay; twelve grandchildren and twenty-one great grandchildren.

Graveside funeral services will be 3:00 Wednesday, May 16, 2007 at Trinity Cemetery near Bono with Jim Hillyer officiating and Emerson Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Pallbearers are Steve Whitmire, Danny Whitmire, Dennis Whitmire Jr., Mark Whitmire, Scotty Whitmire, Clint Whitmire, Michael Whitmire and Brandon Whitmire. Visitation will be from noon until 1:30 P.M., on Wednesday, at Emerson Funeral Home.