Obituary of Terry Willard

Terry Willard, 70, passed away August 24, 2011 in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. He was born October 15, 1940 in Klamath Falls, Oregon, to Irving and Ethel Willard, the third of four children. Terry fell in love in grade school and later married his High School sweetheart Ann Christy on August 18, 1958; the young couple eloped to Reno, Nevada. Terry and Ann began their family in Bend, Oregon and then moved about the western United States as Terry worked as a Construction Miner. Terry was a respected supervisor on water projects and tunnels in northern California and Arizona. Known for his fairness and joyful demeanor, friends and tunnel hands called him "Big Man", as he was tall and burly with massive shoulders and a robust exterior. In 1970, he found work in the copper mines of eastern Arizona. After an injury in a mine cave in 1973, Terry directed his attention to youth and community service. He rallied the citizens of Miami, AZ and built a youth sports complex including ball fields, press box and snack bar which is a standing landmark in that place to this day. Terry presided over the newly formed Babe Ruth baseball league for three years as he recovered from his injury. He was able to reach and mentor many young men through his community volunteerism with a special emphasis on fatherless boys, having lost his own father at age five. He endured multiple reconstructive surgeries to his right arm and shoulder after being struck by a car at age seven. The adversity he endured as a young man molded his character and fixed his position as a stalwart of strength to his family. Terry returned to work in 1976 on the Buckskin Mountain Tunnel of the Central Arizona Project and moved his family to Lake Havasu City. He commuted to Nevada for the final sixteen years of his career but always kept his home in Lake Havasu; close to friends and family. After his retirement in 2000, Terry kept very busy in spite of the forty year toll hard rock mining had taken on his body. Having been a champion wrestler in 1957, Terry took great joy traveling Arizona to cheer for and impart his knowledge to grandson Sean and the LHHS Knights. He loved sports, football, cross country and anything his grandchildren did. In April of 2006, Terry became a member of Havasu Bible Fellowship where he loved to worship God and fellowship with new friends. His legacy is family, love, and strength through faith in the providing hand of God. An unvarying optimist, he began each day with a song and a hearty breakfast, knowing that in time he would dine at the marriage supper of the Lamb. Terry is survived by his wife of 53 years, Ann Willard; Son Charles Willard of Lewiston, ID. his son Charles Reed Willard. Son, Miles (Donna) Willard of Lake Havasu City and their three children Tiffany (Billy) Binger, Christy (James) McCraw and Sean (Amber) Willard. Brother, Robert (Ramona) Willard of Redmond, OR. Sisters Thelma Burke of Redmond, OR. and Cathy (Gary) Harrison of Salem, OR. Terry also has three great-granddaughters, Madilyn (5), Isabella (2) and Embrie (2) He was preceded in death by his parents, Irving in 1946 and Ethel in 1998. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday September 3, 2011 at 1:00 pm. Havasu Bible Fellowship, 3735 London Bridge road, in Desert Hills with Pastor Alan Garner presiding. Contributions in Terry's memory should be made to Grace Giving International at gracegivinginternational.org Thoughts and condolences may be submitted to the family at www.lietz-frazefuneralhome.com Arrangements were placed under the care of Lietz-Fraze Funeral Home and Crematory.