Willard Ray French

LISA and LORI I was thing about you these past days. I am sorry for all you are going though still .I pray you find some peace soon.

Thank you Candy for your beautiful,caring words. I miss my Dad more and more every single day. I only wish I knew how to make it not hurt so bad.I am sorry for the loss of your mother as well. What a tragic way to lose a loved one. Daddy I hope you know we love you and miss you so very much.You are always in my thoughts.Not a day goes by that I don't think of you.I miss you! Love,Lisa

LISA AND LORI; I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW MUCH YOUR FATHER MEANT TO OUR FAMILY... WE GREW UP TOGETHER BECAUSE MOTHER AND DON WERE SO CLOSE TO WILLARD AND SHARON. I WILL NEVER FORGET THOSE DAYS AND WHAT YOUR FATHER DID FOR MY MOM AFTER HER LIFE WAS TAKEN SO TRAGICALLY. THEY ARE NOW TOGETHER LOOKING DOWN FROM HEAVEN WITH SMILES ON BOTH OF THEIR LOVING FACES FOR THEY ARE NOW WITH THE LORD AND BOTH KNOW HOW MUCH WE ALL LOVE THEM....WILLARD IS A LEGEND IN HARDIN COUNTY AND WILL BE FOREVER AND WE ALL MISS HIM ASND MOM VERY MUCH.. YA'LL ARE IN MY PRAYERS ....

i miss you so much i still cant believe that you are gone.i am still waiting to wake up from this horrible nightmare and find you in my arms once again.sometime the pain is so unbearable that i dont know how i make it through to the next day.i know that you are here in spirit but it doesnt make it any easier to go on.i just hold on to the thought of knowing one day i will be with you in the heavens above.i will love you forever and always. GAYLE

I LOVE YOU AND I MISS YOU! I COME HERE TO VISIT YOU & REMEMBER YOU. I LOVE YOU DADDY!

To the family: Willard meant alot to me. He is the man that raised me, and taught me every thing that I know. Last Monday night (3/5/2007) he came to see me in my prayers. It was him and his two girls, me, my mom, and sister. Lisa and Lori had taken good care of him and he was able to talk, walk, and had not one scare on his face or any other body part. This told me were he was at and that he was ok, and we would see him again some day. In this prayer he knew who we all were, and he also told all of us girls that we needed to goto church. I loved him with all of my heart, and have so many memories of us as a family. There has not been one day that I have not thought about him, since this has happend. He did not have to go like this, no one should have to. I Love You Willard. Love, Kelly (Witte) Lee, and family

I miss my dad more than i could ever express with words. I feel like im in a terrible nightmare that i never wake up from. If it wasnt for the support of my dads friends and family i dont know how my sister and i would of made it through these past couple of months. I always knew my daddy was a special kind of man, but only after seeing the hundreds of people who were truelly devastated by his death did i really understand how special he was. He had a heart of gold and i am proud he was my dad. I will miss him forever.

i am glad we had the chance to have the talk we had before you left us.although i think it made your passing harder for me.i will always cherish every minute we were able to share together and you will always hold a very special place in my heart.i will always love you gayle

Rest in peace...

Willard was and will always be very dear to me. He taught me to fish and hunt and I will never forget the fun times we had together. I can truly say I am a better person for knowing him and will miss him more than words can describe. We all lost a loving friend who would give the shirt off his back for anyone who needed help. Maybe that is why we lost him so soon. I will always love him and will miss him for the rest of my life. I hope his girls are able to find peace and the ones responsible have their day of judgement soon.

I'm so very sorry for the loss of such a good father and grandfather, friend, brother-in-law, You wil always be in my heart!

Willard was my Dad's best friend and boy have I heard some great stories about them two. The man is a legend in Hardin County. I was never around Willard much, but I clearly remember the comfort I felt when I was in his presence. I guess it was the sincere kindness in his eyes and his voice. It's sad to see him go, and I thank him for leaving me behind two wonderful cousins, Lisa and Lori, who always look out for me just like Willard did for those he cared about.

I just want to thank you all for your kind words .. Me and my sister are heartbroken , and i do not know what we would have done had it not been for all of you wonderful people .. The food , the kind words , the hugs .. You all are very appreciated . We will Miss him more than words could ever describe .Lisa Ball

I had the pleasure of knowing willard about 12 years. he was loved by many and loved many. sometimes it seems that we spend more time & closer to the people we work with than we are with our own family.Im so glad that we shared the love of god together he truely loved the lord. willard had just ask me to look up some stuff on antichrist and tribulations for him and I did & he got it. all I can think is now he does not have to worry about that . we had a weekly bible study he wanted it and I was glad to have it long as we took turns with the reading glasses. he will be truely missed at SHR I will truly miss him, I can hear him saying WE BETTER GET YOUR LIFE STRAIGHT BOYS I feel blessed just to have known him. god bless you and your famlies at this time and always .hope these words have helped comfort you . god will see you through it all love ESTHER

I have know Willard all my life he was always a gentleman and would do anything for a friend. His kind heart and smiling face will be greatly missed. Hardin county has lost a legend, because they don't make men like Willard anymore.

I am so sorry for your loss. Willard was a very good and man and loved by many... He will be greatly missed.. My Prayers are with each and everyone of you.

I've known Wiilard all my life, grew up right down the road from him and eventually worked with him at South Hampton, he was a good guy with a good heart,and always good for a laugh.Our prayers are with your family.God be with you Otis & Shelley Smart

I worked with Willie for 9 years here at South Hampton, as engineer and plant manager. I have had several "intimate" conversations with him. Willard's passing is only a loss for us. Willard Victory has been won. All of us at South Hampton grieve with you. Merf and Barbara Kaufman and Family

My heart goes out to each and everyone of you. May god touch your heart and allow the memories and love shared with Willard flow like a fountain. At this moment everything seems like a nightmare and you may think there isn't light on the other side. But, if you put your trust in god and allow him to heal your heart, all of your anger and confusion will soon disappear. Hang on to your precious memories and remember that no one can ever take that away.......... ONLY YOU hold those inside. May god bless you all and heal your pain.

After years of hearing James tell stories of he and Willard's adventures as young men, I was not sure what to expect. But then I finally met him and I found the sweetest smile, the kindest voice, and I was charmed. He was always such a gentleman to me and my mother. She thought he was the cutest thing. And indeed, he was. I will miss seeing him pass by on his way to his cousin's and aunt's down the road. I find peace in knowing that no one will ever hurt him again or take advantage of the goodness in his heart. Willard, we love you and will miss you. Joline and James

OUR PRAYERS ARE WITH YA'LL.

I just wanted to say that I am very sorry for your loss. I worked at South Hampton with him and he was a very good guy. He will be missed very much. God Bless!

My thoughts and prayers go out to the family during this difficult time. Williard will always have a special place in my heart and I owed him alot. He is the only reason I have a high school diploma. He pushed me to finish, when I didnt have the desire to. He told me in the future it would mean the difference of getting a good job or not, and he was right. I will never forget .....the month before graduation, he went to the school w/me and asked what it would take for me to get my diploma. He pushed me and helped me until it was all done and surprised me w/ a graduation party. He was there at graduation when not even one member of my own family showed up. At the time, it was wonderful and I loved him for it. But now, it means the world to me. Without him, I would not be where I am. I have a wonderful job, which would not have hired me without that diploma. Williard was always there for me whenever I needed him. He was a good hearted man. (as long as he didnt drink whiskey) He had some faults, but we all do. He's helped alot of people along the way and did alot of kind hearted things . He was loved by so many. Sincerely, One of his many fishing buddies.....Misti Turner Wiggins

We are so sorry for your loss. May you seek God at a time like this to help ease the pain of Willard's passing. You are all in our thoughts and prayers. Dustin was very close to Willard and we know that he will be missed dearly. May God Bless and Keep each and every one of you.