Willard Joy Butcher

Willard Joy Butcher, 93 passed away on Thursday October 8, 2020.

Willard was born into this world on February 28, 1927, the second son of Joseph and Eula Butcher and his older brother Bill. He grew up in Handley, Texas and attended to school in John T. White.

Willard joined the Navy at 16 years of age with his brother Bill signing for him to go, saying he was 17.

After 4 years in the Navy during WWII, he was married to Peggy and had 3 children. He eventually moved from California to Texas where he resided the rest of his life.

Willard was a very wonderful man. If you knew him you liked him or possibly loved him.

In 1977 he met and married Bettye Allman and he welcomed her 4 children into his life. He retired from TXI in the 80’s and moved from Hurst Texas to Granbury where he lived out his life. He went to work as security at Pecan Plantation and stayed there until he was 90. He loved his job and all of the residents of Pecan. He was the first person they saw after a long day of work. As they pulled up to the gate to go home, he greeted each one and always had a smile on his face. They loved him.
In 2017, he was nominated to go on the Honor Flight to Washington. His daughter Eula was lucky enough to go along and be his chaperone. Those duties included waiting on him hand and foot; whatever your vet needed you did it. He spent 2 days of real emotions with 40 other WWII vets. It was a trip of a lifetime for him and his daughter Eula.

Willard lived a long beautiful; life and I truly believe he had no regrets. He loved the Lord and was very thankful and blessed with good health until the Lord came for him.

Willard is survived by 3 children, Danny Butcher and sons Cody and Max, Bill Butcher and wife Janelle and sons Billy and Jesse and Eula Butcher and son Kenneth; step children, Andrea Roiz and husband Chris and sons Jesse and Travis and daughter Jennifer Carr, Allen Allman and wife Rayma Lee and children Devin and Cara; and a multitude of great grandchildren, great great grandchildren, nephews, nieces and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Bettye, 3 siblings, Bill, Pressley and Judy; grandsons Ronnie Hardin Jr and Aaron Allman, son in law Calvin Livingston, step sons Austin and Larry Allman.

He will truly be missed by all, especially his family. We are so thankful and blessed to have had him here to the young age of 93. He lived the life of a hero and that, he surely was.