North Powder
Alvin Ray Willits, 65, of North Powder, died June 15, 2004, at his home.
His graveside service will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Lane Memorial Gardens, 5300 West 11th Ave., Eugene. Visitations will be from 10 a.m. to noon Tuesday at the Lane Memorial Gardens Chapel.
Mr. Willits was born on Feb. 4, 1939, at Des Moines, Iowa, to Raymond Dewey and Stella Marie Monroe Willits. As a small child, he moved with his family to Eugene, where he attended school.
In August 1968, he married Kara-Jo Dean-Mather. He worked as a driver and a mechanic for Swift Logging Co. at Springfield. In 1980, Alvin and Kara-Jo moved to North Powder where they owned and operated Evans Corner Grocery Store. Alvin also drove farm trucks for Kerns Ranch and Browne’s Haying and drove school bus for the North Powder School District.
Alvin enjoyed fishing, deer and elk hunting, and spending time with his family, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Raymond and Stella Willits; sisters, Eva Wyatt, Lucille and her husband, Addy, and Clovalee; brother, Leland Willits; and a nephew, LeRoy Wyatt.
Survivors include his wife, Kara-Jo Willits; four daughters, Lisa Fouts, and her husband, Jason, of Union; Tami Myers of Eugene, Janie Sweeney and her husband, John, of Eugene, LaVona Mathers and her husband, Ed Wallace, of Eugene; two sons, Clifford Mather, and his wife, Rhana, of Mount Hood, and John Daffern of Eugene; a brother, Albert, and his wife, Carmen, of Eugene; five sisters, Blanche Patrick, and her husband, Bill, of Springfield, Alice Willits of Myrtle Creek, Marylou Jenkin of Myrtle Creek, Janna Walton and her husband, Wayne, of Eugene, and Nancy Johnson and her husband, Jim, of San Diego; 21 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.
Memorial contributions may be made to Pathway Hospice through Gray’s West & Co., P.O. Box 726, Baker City, OR 97814.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, June 18, 2004
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor