Willow Dean (Hall) Bloyd

She passed peacefully at her home surrounded by her family. She had a warm, loving, gracious soul. She sprinkled blessings, joy, and kindness on everyone she met.

Willow was born January 10, 1936, in Green County, Kentucky, to Arvin Hazel and Nora Ethel (Skaggs) Hall. She was the second of four children, all of whom preceded her in death. She grew up in Summersville, Kentucky, attending the local school through eighth grade. She made a profession of faith early in life at Allendale Baptist Church and was baptized into the fold in Brush Creek. Her faith remained a vital importance in her life, leading her actions daily. She has been known by many names over the years: Dean, Willadean, and Grandma Dean-O. It wasn’t until 1997 that she decided she wanted to be called by her first name, Willow, and Willow has blossomed over the years.

She worked a short time at Fruit of the Loom in Campbellsville. In 1958, at the age of 22, she married Kenneth Elmer Bloyd. Together they built a life and family on a farm and in the church in various locations between Summersville, Mount Sherman, Louisville, Sonora, and Elizabethtown, all in Kentucky, then Wolf Island, East Prairie, and Sikeston in Missouri. During this chapter of her life, she was a stay-at-home Mom. Other than children, she raised hogs, cattle, chickens, horses, honeybees, gardens, and orchards. After the youngest started school, Willow began a career in retail, working at Roses, K-Mart, and Wal-Mart. Her Wal-Mart career began in Charleston, Missouri, and ended at Elizabethtown, Kentucky, retiring after 40 years at the “young” age of 86. She was one of the most charismatic employees Wal-Mart has ever seen. People would come from miles around making a point to visit Willow while doing their weekly shopping. After retiring she would visit Wal-Mart weekly to socialize with her previous co-workers and vendors with the excuse of needing some shopping.

She has been a member of Severns Valley Baptist Church for over 30 years. She read her Bible and at least 3 devotionals daily. She would end each day on her knees praying before bed. She was a constant attendee of weekly church services, prayer meetings, and Christian music events at her home at RobinBrooke Senior Living. While she was driving, she would volunteer weekly with Warm Blessings, Celebrate Recovery, and sleeping out with Cardboard Nation.

Willow always loved fashion. She enjoyed matching outfits and jewelry every day. “Do I look Pretty?” She enjoyed ice cream, walking, playing Bingo, spending time with friends and family, and anything purple. She loved dancing. She would frequently be spotted anywhere there was live music. She frequented the Legion in Elizabethtown and Bardstown. There wasn’t a single band or singer in the area that wasn’t asked to play her favorite song, “Wagon Wheel”, by Darius Rucker. Every Wednesday at RobinBrooke she attended “Let’s Get Poppin’” with her music playlist of favorites. She was often heard after dancing, “I’ve still got it, don’t I?”

Willow touched everyone she met in some way and was loved by many. She had many ‘Dean-O-isms” like ‘Thunder Naw’, ‘Shoot Yeah’, and ‘Knock you to Kingdom come’.

Willow is preceded in death by her parents, a sister, Juanita Brummal (Hall) Walker, a sister Roselle Yvonne Hall, and a brother Joseph Edward Hall, and former husband Kenneth Elmer Bloyd.

Willow is survived by her 5 children: Kim (Larry) Smith of Elizabethtown, Kentucky, Kay (Robin) Howard of Swanton, Ohio, Kathy Bloyd of Webb City, Missouri, Kent (Karen) Bloyd of New Albany, Indiana, and Kristy (Ron) Bull of St. Charles, Missouri; 11 grandchildren: Matt Smith, Eric (Madhu) Smith, Kasey (Aaron) Cossitt, Joshua (Kristen) Bloyd, Mindy (Frank) Storman, Hannah Bloyd, Jacob Bloyd, Carter Bloyd, Lillian (Austin) Tanck, Jack Bull, and Caroline Bull; and 6 great grandchildren with 1 on the way: Carlee Smith, Sam Smith, Silas Bloyd, Avery Bloyd, Hazel Cossitt, Nora Tanck, and Baby Boy Tanck on the way. We all have a little Dean-O in us!

She will be sorely missed by friends and family alike.

The funeral service is at 12 PM Noon on Wednesday, July 16, 2025 at Severns Valley Baptist Church.

Burial follows at Bell Cemetery in Green County, Kentucky.

Visitation begins at 10 AM on Wednesday and continues until the time of service at Severns Valley.

In lieu of flowers donations are requested to Hosparus Health Central Kentucky.