Willis Snowden Jr.

ERIE - Willis Harold "Snowdy" Snowden Jr., 81, of Erie, died Thursday, Dec. 7, 2006, at Pleasant View Nursing Home, Morrison. He was employed by John Deere Parts Department, Milan, as a forklift driver for 25 years, retiring in 1990.

Willis Snowden Jr. was born March 26, 1925, in Iowa City, Iowa, the son of Willis H. and Lillian McCorkle-Snowden. He served in the Marine Corps during World War II from 1943 until 1946. He married Pattie Meyer on March 25, 1950, in Kohoka, Mo. He was a 62-year member of the American Legion. He served on the Erie Fire Department for 35 years retiring in 1982 and held numerous positions including fire chief. He helped form the present fire district and build the first new fire station. He belonged to UAW Local 79 and Erie Christian Church. He enjoyed camping, golfing and bowling; and enjoyed most of all his great-grandchildren.

Survivors include his wife; three daughters, Vicki (Phil) Watkins and Kris (Roger) Johnson, both of Erie, and Kim (Dan) Hansen of Prophetstown; three sons, Robert (Dawn) Snowden of Albany and Randy (Karen) Snowden and Rick Snowden, both of Erie; a brother, Richard (Marlene) Snowden of Erie; two sisters, Phyllis Snowden of Morrison and Darlene (Ernest) Johnson of Moline; his mother-in-law, Ruth Meyer of Erie; 16 grandchildren; a stepgranddaughter; eight great-grandchildren; and a step-great-granddaughter.

He was preceded in death by a son, Rodney Snowden on May 30, 1981; and a great-granddaughter, Courtney Lynn Snowden on March 23, 1999.

The funeral is at 11 a.m. Monday at Erie Christian Church, Erie. Burial is at Erie Cemetery. Visitation is from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Gibson Funeral Home, Erie.

A memorial has been established.