Billy Willis

Published 12:00 am Monday, July 13, 2009

NATCHEZ — Services for Billy Ray “Wild Hog” Willis, 74, of Natchez, who died Saturday, July 11, 2009, at his residence, will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at Laird Funeral Home Union Street Chapel with the Rev. Wayne Spencer officiating.
Burial will follow in Greenlawn Memorial Park under the direction of Laird Funeral Home.
Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Laird Funeral Home Union Street.
Mr. Willis was born May 9, 1935 in Homer, La., the son of Ray Willis and Ollie Irene Frazier Walker. He was a member of Immanuel Baptist Church, and served in the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Army. He retired from Armstrong Tire and Rubber Company, and loved working at Adams County Christian School. He was the umpire for Boys Dixie Youth Baseball. He was an avid fisherman and hunter, and loved and enjoyed all of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; stepfather, Arthur Walker and one sister, Avon Curry.
Survivors include his wife of 55 years, Willese Black Willis; one son, Mike Willis and wife, Sharon, of Monterey; three daughters, Billie Jo Walley and husband, Skeeter, of Vidalia, Julie Biglane and husband, Robert, of Natchez and Deborah McConnell of Natchez; 11 grandchildren, Michael Paul Davis, Bubba Davis, April Lowry, Mallory Walley, Lashon Brown, Justin Biglane, Ashleigh Biglane, Wesee Bumgarner, Will McConnell, Tasha Oglesby and Martie Donald; eighteen great-grandchildren, Morgan and Tyler Davis, Trey Dylan, Alyssa and Ginney Lowery, Abby and Faith Ann Brown, Jadyn and Jordan Biglane, Journi and Brooklyn Timmons, Noah, Joseph, Kayleigh Bumgarner, Wesley and Wade Idom, Marlee and Ruby Claire Donald; one brother, Arthur Gray Walker of Arizona and one sister, Lois Catherine Kempkes of Arizona.
Pallbearers will be Michael Paul Davis, Bubba Davis, Justin Biglane, Will McConnell, Neil Brown, Paul Hayles, Sammy Atwell and Bill Bacot.
Honorary pallbearers will be Jack Milligan, Walt Brown, Henry Deere, Ivy Ray Thornton, Billy Ray Lowry Jr. and Buddy Wade.
Memorials may be made to Immanuel Baptist Church.
Online condolences may be made to www.lairdfh.com.