Hasseltine Willard
December 31, 2011
Hasseltine Willard, age 89, of the Taskee area, passed away at the Nazareth Living Center, in St. Louis, MO on December 31, 2011. She was born August 18, 1922, to the late James Collins and the late Sarah (Allen) Collins, in Taskee, MO.
Hasseltine spent her childhood in Wayne County. She attended school at Liberty School at Holliday Landing and Cool Springs School. Hasseltine was of the Baptist faith and a member of the Cool Springs Baptist Church. She was united in marriage to Leroy Willard on September 9,1940. Of this union eight children were born.
Hasseltine enjoyed cooking for her family and cleaning her house and working out in the yard and garden, along with spending time with her family. She loved her family and was a wonderful person, who was nice to everyone. Hasseltine was a homemaker for over 70 years. She loved caring for her family which was her purpose in life.
Hasseltine was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, two brothers, Harold Collins and Roy Collins, six sisters, Ola Jones, Lela Jones, Opal Ownbey, Bernice Prince, Jerlene Waller, and Lucy Haley.
She was survived by five sons, Jerry (Wanda) Willard of Imperial, MO Bobby (Kathylene) Willard of Barnhart, MO, Larry Willard of Greenville, MO, Billy Willard of Hazelwood, MO, Harold (Priscilla) Willard of Arnold, MO; three daughters, Shirley (Leon) Wood of Greenville, MO, Bonnie (Charles)Barnes of Festus, MO, and Peggy Willard of Arnold,MO. She is also survived by sixteen grandchildren, twenty-eight great- grandchildren, and ten great-great-grandchildren.
A visitation was held Wednesday, January 4, 2011, beginning at 8:30a.m. for the family. Friends may join them at 9:00a.m. The funeral followed beginning at 11:00 a.m. Both will be held at Ruegg Funeral Chapel in Greenville, MO. Pastor Albert Wood officiated the ceremonies. Brittany Wood, Michelle Barnes and Pam Willard gave eulogies during the ceremonies. Interment followed at Cool Springs Cemetery, in Taskee, MO. Pallbearers were Michael Willard, David Willard, Tony Benson, Steve Wood, Leon Willard, and Danny Ivicsics. Online condolences maybe made at www.rueggfuneralhomes.com.
May the words of Our Lord Jesus Christ bring you some comfort at this sad time – Jesus said to her: ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He that exercises faith in me, even though he dies, will come to life’.