| WILLIS T. MELANDER |
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Mr. Willis Taplin Melander, 84, of the Timber Point Nursing Home in Camp Point, IL, formerly of Payson, IL., died at 4:20 p.m. Monday (April 19, 2004) in Timber Point Nursing Home. Born March 31, 1920 in Hope, North Dakota, Willis was the son of Samuel W. and Frances Taplin Ray, and was raised by his mother and stepfather, Nels Melander. He married Leona Groce on April 3, 1971 in Las Vegas, Nevada. She survives. Mr. Melander was employed as a truck driver in Peoria for International Transport based in Rochester, MN for over 30 years until his retirement. Surviving is his wife, Leona; three sons, Richard Melander and his wife Diane of Racine, WI., Willis R. Melander and his wife Carol of Borden, IN., and Gary Wright and his wife Carol of Drexel, MO.; two daughters, Margie King and her husband Jim of Independence, MO, and Patricia Flohr and her husband Kim of Billings, MT; 18 grandchildren; 26 great grandchildren; 5 great great grandchildren; and one sister, Esther Ann Schott and her husband Raymond of Osceola, NE. He was preceded in death by his parents; one daughter, Bonnie Jeanene Melander; and one sister, Harriet Mulari. Funeral services will be held Saturday morning at 10:30 at the Zehender Robinson Stormer Cookson Funeral Home in Payson by Brother Marvin Cook. Burial will be in the Payson New Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday evening from 5:00 until 7:00 and Saturday morning until the time of services at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the charity of the donor's choice in the care of the Zehender Robinson Stormer Cookson Funeral Home, 1435 State Street, Quincy, IL 62301. |