Gracie Ellen Willyard

Gracie Ellen Willyard of Louisville, KY, passed from this world on July 27, 2025. She was born in Hardin County, KY on February 18, 1940 to John & Mary Magda"Lena" Hicks. She was preceded in death by her siblings, Coy Shelby Hicks, William Earl "Pete" Hicks, Rufford Hamilton Hicks, Pauline Hicks Evans and Mary Alice Hughes. She has left to carry on her memory her husband of 69 years and the love of her life Ray H. Willyard, her daughters Phyllis Lay (Glenn) and Brenda Stewart. Her grandchildren Stephanie Lewis (Tim), Jesse Lay (Stephanie), Shelby Jo Stewart and Taylor Gordon (Graham). Her great grandchildren, Jake and Wyatt Lay, Wesley Lewis and Hayes Gordon. Greg Stewart, Shelby Jo and Taylor's father. Her nephews and nieces Johnny Evans, Guy Evans, Paula Coogle and Peggy Ammons. Her great-niece Roxanne Westmoreland.

Gracie loved her granddogs, Maggie and Sadie Grace and her great granddogs Hank and Brody Ray. She loved giving them lots of treats and the occasional bowl of ice cream.

Gracie served as a Girl Scout leader for Troop 96 out of Bethany United Methodist Church and a band mother for Jesse Stuart High School.

In their later years, she and Ray enjoyed traveling, fishing and just being together.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you make a donation to Paws With A Purpose, an organization that provides assistance dogs to persons with disabilities or Honor Flight Bluegrass, an organization that transports veterans to Washington, DC to visit their memorials and reflect upon their service and sacrifice.

Pawswithpurpose.org

Honorflightbluegrass.org

A visitation for Gracie will be held on Thursday, July 31, 2025, from 3:30 PM to 7:30 PM at Advantage Funeral Home located at 10907 Dixie Highway, Louisville, KY 40272.

A funeral service will take place on Friday, August 1, 2025, from at 11:00 AM at the same location.

Following the service, a burial will be held at Bethany Memorial Cemetery, 10917 Dixie Highway, Louisville, KY 40272.