Willard attended the Anchor School in Douglas County Willard W. Percifield was born June 24, 1934, in Ava, to Blevins and Faye Percifield. As a child Willard attended the Anchor School in Douglas County. Later, he attended school in Protection, Kan., where he helped his uncle in wheat harvest. After leaving Kansas he moved to Exeter, Calif., where he worked as a migrant worker picking fruits and vegetables.
At the age of 20, he returned to Ava where he met Bonnie Mae Sartor. They were married Dec. 31, 1955, in Mtn. Grove. From this union they had six children: two daughters, Brenda and Glenda, and four sons, Dale, Randy, Kevin and Kenneth.
Willard enjoyed a variety of occupations throughout his life, from carpentry to farming, truck driving, to owning his own business. Willard and Bonnie lived in Diagonal, Iowa, for many years before moving to Allendale, Mo. They divorced in 1980.
On Dec. 9, 1982, Willard married Kathy Dehart of Grant City, Mo. After spending a short time in Allendale, Willard and Kathy moved to Silvis, Ill., where they lived for 10 years. They returned to Grant City in 1994 where Willard spent the remainder of his life.
Willard Percifield died Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2008, at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa, after a long battle with lung disease.
He was preceded in death by his father Blevins Quintine Percifield, his mother Ethel Faye Payne, a sister, Emma Jean Evans, and a brother, Harold Richard (Junior) Percifield.
Surviving are six children and their spouses, Brenda and Gary Smith, Diagonal, Iowa, Dale Percifield, Allendale, Glenda and Pat Schwienebart, Newton, Iowa, Randy and Cindy Percifield, Delphos, Iowa, Kevin and LeAnn Percifield, Redding, Iowa, and Kenneth and Stephanie Percifield, Redding, Iowa ; sisters, Delpha Mulvania, Ava, Lois Percifield, Bettendorf, Iowa, Pauline Stout, Norwood, Eldeen Roach, Tingley, Iowa, and Vivian Perreault, Bettendorf, Iowa; a brother, John Percifield, Davenport, Iowa; 20 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, Jan. 22, at the Prugh-Dunfee Funeral Home in Grant City, Mo., with Pastor Len Green officiating. Interment was in the Kirk Cemetery, Allendale, Mo.
Memorials to the family should be sent to Prugh-Dunfee Funeral Home Inc., 200 South Front St., Grant City, MO 64456.
