Bettye Jean Willard

Funeral will be at 3pm, Sunday, September 30th, 2018 at Collier-Butler Chapel for Bettye Jean Willard, 85, Altoona, who died Wednesday, September 26, 2018. The eulogy will be delivered by her grandson, Daniel Willard. Burial will be at Crestwood Cemetery. Collier-Butler Funeral Home is in charge.

Ms. Willard was a native of Etowah County and lived there most of her life. She was a member of East Walnut Baptist Church and past president of Ladies Auxiliary Firefighters Local 454. She was past president and member of Ladies Auxiliary VFW Post 8600. She worked as an aide at John Jones Elementary School, Attalla Technical School, and she worked as a special education aide in the Etowah County School System until her retirement. Afterward, she worked at Head Start for many years.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Corrine S. and James M. Miller, brothers Roy Miller, William “Bill” Miller, Jimmy Miller, Ed “Boots” Miller, brother in law Bill Calhoun, and son James “Rick” Willard.

She is survived by her sister Mary Calhoun (Harlan), Gadsden; daughter, Debbie Kopp (Sidney), Opelika; sons, Roy Willard, Altoona, and Marc Willard, New Jersey; daughter in law, Shirley Willard, Gadsden; 8 grandchildren; 18 great grandchildren; 2 great-great grandsons; and a large fleet of nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be Donald Hollingsworth, Luke Hollingsworth,Mitch Hollis, Sean Kopp, Marc Willard, and Roy Willard.

Honorary pallbearers will be Sidney Kopp, Daniel Willard, Alacare Home Health and Hospice, and Dr. Steven Sanders and the Staff at East Gadsden Clinic.

Family will receive visitors from 6-8 this evening at Collier-Butler Funeral Home.