1943
Willis
2014
Willis Childress
May 6, 1943 — September 6, 2014
Munising
Willis Ray Childress, age 71, of Munising, passed away Saturday, September 6, 2014 at Marquette General Hospital. He was born May 6, 1943 to Elmer Curtis and Dorothy (Hess) Childress in the city of Drill in Russell County, Virginia. After graduating from Honaker High School in Honaker, Virginia in 1962, Willie enlisted in the Air Force. He was stationed at K.I. Sawyer for four years working security and was honorably discharged. Willie made many life-long friends while in the service.
He had many jobs after the Air Force. He retired for health reasons from CCI in 2000 as a driller and heavy equipment operator. Willie worked for Shipwreck Tours for many years as their maintenance man. He enjoyed talking with passengers and crew, and was known as "Uncle Willie".
He enjoyed being outdoors, either in the woods or on the lake. An avid deer hunter and fisherman, he looked forward to every season. In the winter, it was either watching Packer football or MSU Spartan basketball. In fact, his dog's name is Sparta.
Willie married Mary Jane Bertucci of Ishpeming in 1964. They had three children together. He married Evelyn Lindquist in 1976 and they had two daughters together. Willie was very proud of his children and grandchildren. Willie was quick to tell everyone about their accomplishments. He graduated from NMU in 1986 with a Bachelor's Degree in Education and taught school for a couple of years before being called back to the mines. Willie always said it was never too late to go to college. He encouraged all to complete their education.
Willie is survived by his wife - Evelyn Childress of Munising; sons - Frank (Jennifer) of Appleton, WI, Christopher (Mackenzie) of Minneapolis, MN; daughters - Deborah (Charles) Dault, of Brownstone, MI, Sheryl (Matt) Niemi of Gwinn, and Dorothy Childress of Munising; grandchildren - Tony and Tasia Skoviak, Jessica and Jacob Childress, Tony and Mary Dault, Megan Morris and Carter Niemi, and Elizabeth and Timmy Johnson; sisters - Mary Stinson of Virginia and Joan (Jess) Slaughter of Tennessee; brother - Jesse Childress of Virginia, sister-in-law - Nancy Childress of Virginia; brothers-in-law - Mike (Pam Adams), Pete (Chris Konyn), Harry (Ruth), George (Julie) and David (Cindy) Lindquist; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, in-laws Gunnard and Priscilla Lindquist, brother James Childress and brother-in-law Larry Lindquist.
Visitation will be at the Bowerman Funeral Home on Tuesday, September 9, 2014 from 3:00 until 5:00 p.m. Deacon Tom Moseley will conduct Willie's funeral service at 5:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Interment will be on Thursday, September 11, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at Maple Grove Cemetery, where the American Legion and Vietnam Veteran Honor Guard will conduct military honors.
Willis Ray Childress, age 71, of Munising, passed away Saturday, September 6, 2014 at Marquette General Hospital. He was born May 6, 1943 to Elmer Curtis and Dorothy (Hess) Childress in the city of Drill in Russell County, Virginia. After graduating from Honaker High School in Honaker, Virginia in 1962, Willie enlisted in the Air Force. He was stationed at K.I. Sawyer for four years working security and was honorably discharged. Willie made many life-long friends while in the service.
He had many jobs after the Air Force. He retired for health reasons from CCI in 2000 as a driller and heavy equipment operator. Willie worked for Shipwreck Tours for many years as their maintenance man. He enjoyed talking with passengers and crew, and was known as "Uncle Willie".
He enjoyed being outdoors, either in the woods or on the lake. An avid deer hunter and fisherman, he looked forward to every season. In the winter, it was either watching Packer football or MSU Spartan basketball. In fact, his dog's name is Sparta.
Willie married Mary Jane Bertucci of Ishpeming in 1964. They had three children together. He married Evelyn Lindquist in 1976 and they had two daughters together. Willie was very proud of his children and grandchildren. Willie was quick to tell everyone about their accomplishments. He graduated from NMU in 1986 with a Bachelor's Degree in Education and taught school for a couple of years before being called back to the mines. Willie always said it was never too late to go to college. He encouraged all to complete their education.
Willie is survived by his wife - Evelyn Childress of Munising; sons - Frank (Jennifer) of Appleton, WI, Christopher (Mackenzie) of Minneapolis, MN; daughters - Deborah (Charles) Dault, of Brownstone, MI, Sheryl (Matt) Niemi of Gwinn, and Dorothy Childress of Munising; grandchildren - Tony and Tasia Skoviak, Jessica and Jacob Childress, Tony and Mary Dault, Megan Morris and Carter Niemi, and Elizabeth and Timmy Johnson; sisters - Mary Stinson of Virginia and Joan (Jess) Slaughter of Tennessee; brother - Jesse Childress of Virginia, sister-in-law - Nancy Childress of Virginia; brothers-in-law - Mike (Pam Adams), Pete (Chris Konyn), Harry (Ruth), George (Julie) and David (Cindy) Lindquist; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, in-laws Gunnard and Priscilla Lindquist, brother James Childress and brother-in-law Larry Lindquist.
Visitation will be at the Bowerman Funeral Home on Tuesday, September 9, 2014 from 3:00 until 5:00 p.m. Deacon Tom Moseley will conduct Willie's funeral service at 5:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Interment will be on Thursday, September 11, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at Maple Grove Cemetery, where the American Legion and Vietnam Veteran Honor Guard will conduct military honors.
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