A. O. Willey, age 85, of Nederland passed away Wednesday, January 4, 2006 at Memorial Hermann Baptist Hospital in Beaumont.
He was born March 22, 1920 to Archie and Grace Willey in Orange, TX and graduated from Orange High School in 1936 and Lamar Institute of Technology of Beaumont in 1947. He was a U. S. Navy veteran of WW II and a member of I.B.E.W. Local #479. He was formerly employed as an electrical supervisor with Consolidated Shipbuilding Division in Orange from 1941 to 1944. In 1947 he became an Electrical Consultant at DuPont Construction Site in Orange. He loved his work and was very dedicated to it. While serving as an electrician or electrical supervisor for some 44 years, he covered 24 major plants along the Gulf Coast and some in Mexico. He retired in 1985 from DuPont as an Electrical Superintendent/Consultant. He coached many youth sports activities, mostly baseball and football, and was an avid golfer and loved to talk about his hole-in-one at Sunset Groves Country Club. He was a member of First United Methodist Church of Nederland.
Survivors include his wife, Charlene F. Willey of Nederland; sons, W. Van Willey and wife Patti of Austin and Mark F. Hill and wife Donna of Nederland; four grandchildren, P. Hunter, Shannan M., and Kayla M. Willey all of Austin and Jordi Ann LeBouef of Nederland; one brother, Cecil V. Willey and wife, Reba of Orange; one sister, Flavia Langley and husband, Charles of Porter; and two nieces.
A gathering of family and friends will be from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m. Friday, January 6, 2006 at Broussard’s, 505 12th Street, Nederland. Funeral service will be 1:00 p.m. Saturday, January 7, 2006 at Broussard’s Nederland chapel with Reverend Dale Chance officiating. Interment and graveside services with Military Honors by Southeast Texas Veterans Association will follow at Greenlawn Memorial Park in Groves.
Pallbearers will be Van Willey, Hunter Willey, Mark Hill, Dwain Morrison, James Weldon Morrison and Mark Weaver. Honorary pallbearers will be Cecil Willey, Oris Dunstream and Billy Fitzgerald.
For those desiring, memorial contributions may be directed to Hughen Center, Inc. 2849 9th Avenue, Port Arthur, TX 77640 or First United Methodist Church 104 13th Street, Nederland, TX 77627.
