Obituary of Gary E. Willard

Gary E. Willard "Loved helping others" Machias, NY– Gary E. Willard of 3816 Roszyk Hill Rd. died Tuesday (March 21, 2006) as a result of injuries sustained in a one car accident in the town of Humphrey. Born October 24, 1949 in Wellsville, NY he was the son of Patricia Jones Willard and Ray Willard, Sr. On November 10, 1994 in Olean, NY he married Susan V. Brown who survives. Mr. Willard was raised in Wellsville and graduated from Wellsville High School. He lived most of his life in Olean prior to moving to Machias six years ago. He served during the Vietnam War in the US Army where he received the Purple Heart. He was also the recipient of the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal and he received 3 Overseas Bars as well as an Expert Badge M-14. He worked for the former Bargain Center in Olean and for several years he was employed as a bartender for the Olean Elk's Lodge and as a custodian for the Moose Club. He was a member of the Olean Elk's Lodge, the Moose Club, the Olean American Legion and the St. Stephen's Club. He also recently attended the Fellowship Church in Machias. Mr. Willard loved to fish, hunt and drive. He especially enjoyed helping others and in recent years he volunteered as a driver for transporting veteran patients to area hospitals and clinics. Surviving besides his wife are his mother Patricia Willard of Wellsville; his father Ray (Linda) Willard, Sr. of Canandaigua; 1 stepson Michael (Kathy) Sader of Allegany; 4 step grandchildren; 2 brothers Ray Willard, Jr. Of Newark, NY and Richard (Brenda) Willard of Lake Wales, FL; 2 daughters Barbara Miller of Middleburg, FL and Paula (Jim) Gary of Cortland, OH; 1 stepbrother Randy (Jennifer) Willard of Springwater, NY several nieces and nephews and a special aunt and uncle Bob and Jean Armstrong of Wellsville. Friends will be received at the Casey, Halwig & Hartle Funeral Home 3128 W. State Rd. Olean on Saturday (March 25, 2006) from 1 until 3pm at which time funeral and committal services will be held. Rev. Gerald Haines, pastor of the Fellowship Church in Machias, will officiate. Burial will be in Mt. View Cemetery Veterans Field of Honor, Olean. Memorials, if desired, may be made to the Allegany/Cattaraugus County Joint Veterans Committee C/O Bob !McGinty 5251 S. Nine Mile Rd. Allegany, NY 14706.