Willie M. Talley, 73, died Feb. 12, 2006, at his home in Yakima. He was born Oct. 28, 1932, in Tuckerman, Ark. He served in the U.S. Navy on the USS Point Cruz during the Korean Conflict.

Willie met his wife, Sadie in Lewiston, Idaho, and they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on July 20, 2005. The couple had four children. The family moved to Whidbey Island in 1967 for a temporary job, and they stayed for 35 years. Willie worked in the plumbing and pipefitting industry for 45 years, and retired as a superintendent. He was also a private pilot, IFR rated and twin engine rated, and especially loved his Mooney airplane.

When he retired in 1997, he and his wife traveled in their RV and joined the Snowbird’s life in Yuma, Ariz. Willie also enjoyed golfing and fishing.

Willie will always be remembered for his beautiful smile.

Survivors include his wife Sadie Talley of Yakima; three daughters, Julie Nelson of Murrieta, Calif., Belinda (John) Jerde of Oak Harbor, and Wendy (Tim) O’Brien of Yakima; a son, Nathan (Merrilee) Talley of La Mesa, Calif.; eight grandchildren and one great grandchild; three brothers, Roy (Louise), John (Brenda) and Bill Talley, all of Jonesboro, Ark.; and three sisters, Magdalene Henson of Marion, Ind., Pauline (Bud) Wheaton of Flint, Mich., and Wanda (Everett) Minton of House Springs, Mo.; and a sister-in-law, Lora Talley of Jonesboro, Ark.

Willie was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Carrie Talley; a brother, Homer Talley and a sister, Elizabeth Talley.

Graveside services will be at 1 p.m. Friday, Feb. 17, at the Lewis-Clark Memorial Gardens in Lewiston, Idaho.