Willie Lee "Fat" Haire

Willie graduated from East St. Louis Lincoln Senior High School in January 1957. Later, he was drafted into the U.S. Army where he served as a Military Policeman.

In 1995, he retired from the E. St. Louis Police Department after 23 years as a Patrolman and Detective. He was a member of the E. St Louis Police Officers’ Union. Willie loved sports of all kinds, and was an avid fan of the Chicago Cubs. He enjoyed throwing darts, and spending time with his family.

Willie was preceded in death by his parents, Charlie Gilmore and Velma Haire; and his loving wife, Barbara Ricks Haire; sisters, Ella Haire McCloud, Emma Haire Smith and Earline Haire.

He is survived by his sons, Darryl (Lenora) Haire of Naperville, IL; Dorman Haire of St Louis, MO; daughter, Toni (Jeremiah) Whiting of Atlanta, GA; and stepson, Stanley Ricks, Sr., of East St. Louis, IL; grandchildren, Cicely Haire, Yakim Johnson, Dorman Brandon Haire, Dormeshia Haire, Donte’ Haire, Gaylon Haire, Jeremiah Whiting, Jr, Jessica Whiting, Stanley Ricks, Jr, and Mishia Williams; 3 great grandchildren; dearest nieces Patricia Dooley Meeks, Emita Meeks and Katie Harlan; nephews, James ”Sprunt” Jones, Jr., Derrick Greenwood, Louis Dooley, Jr. and Eddie “Dino” Turmon; nieces and a nephew he assisted raising, Miesha Ricks, Cieara Merriweather, Dashia Ricks Carter, Kimberly Ricks, Kevin “Poppy” Ricks; beloved cousins, Carol Neely, Cleveland Haire and Lula Mae Williams; sisters-in-law Joyce (Jessie) Williams, Angela (Glen) Youngblood; special friends, Jinnie Mae Brown and her son, Xavier Brown; life-long friend, Leonard Neely.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.valhallagardensandfuneralhome.com

Visitation: Friends may call from 4 to 8 pm on Thursday, July 9, 2015 at Valhalla Gaerdner Holten Funeral Home, 3412 Frank Scott Parkway West, Belleville, IL 62223.

Funeral services will be held at 11 am, July 10, 2015, at the funeral home.

Interment will follow in Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, St. Louis, MO.

Valhalla Gaerdner Holten Funeral Home