Willis (Will) Woolett passed away on Oct. 31, 2008, with his wife, Peggy, sons, Rick and Roger, nephew and niece, Steven and Lori Woolett, and dear friend, Leroy Henderson, at his side. Will was born in Kimberly, Minn., on Nov. 20, 1934, the last of nine children born to and raised by Leroy and Esther Woolett.

Willis attended Roosevelt High School, Port Angeles, Wash., until close to the end of his junior year. Afraid of missing the Korean War, as three of his brothers had served during World War II and his brother Jim had entered the Navy just two weeks prior, Will enlisted in the Navy in March 1952.

Will met and married the love of his life, Margaret (Peggy) Richards of Port Angeles, Wash., in 1957. Out of this union, Will and Peggy had three wonderful and loving children, Richard (Rick) Earnest, Mary Colleen and Roger Willis.

During the 22 years of service to his country, Will served on escort carrier Sitkoh Bay CVE-86; USS AFDB-1 Guam, M.I.; USS Bennington CVA-20; USS Coral Sea CVA-43; USS Zelima AF-49; USS Waller DD-466; USS Shenandoah AD-26; USS America CVA 66; Naval Base in Astoria, Ore.; Naval Air Station in Sand Point, Wash.; and the recruiting station in Butte.

Will retired from the Navy in 1973 and moved his family to Butte, where they lived for the next 10 years. Will worked for Safeway Warehouse in Butte, Montana Power in Colstrip, MHD (now Mountain State Energy) in Butte, Kootenai Medical Center in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, and various industrial construction companies before retiring from Amgen Inc. in Thousand Oaks, Calif., in 1992.

Will continued to pursue his love of the military and community through the following organizations, some of which he held various leadership positions: Past Master (twice) of Masonic Lodge Silver Bow 48, Butte; Scottish Rite; past member, Shrine Temple, Butte; life member, Veterans of Foreign Wars; American Legion Post 2, Helena; Lewis & Clark Veterans Counsel (Honor Guard); Veterans Memorial Park Foundation; VA Volunteer Services; and Veterans Cemetery Committee.

Will was preceded in death by his mother, Esther; father, Leroy; sisters, Bernice (Woolett) and Louise Hanson; brothers, Guy, Carl, Joe and Bob; and nephew, Mark Ecker.

Will is survived by his wife, Peggy; sons, Rick of East Helena and Roger of Moorpark, Calif.; daughter, Colleen of Great Falls; sister, Margaret Weed, and brother, Jim Woolett, both of Port Angeles, Wash.; grandchildren, Christopher and Erika Woolett of Moorpark, Ashley Ennen of Corvallis, Mathew Ennen of Port Angeles, Rick and Katie Spencer of East Helena; and 25 nephews and nieces.

A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 5, at 10 a.m. at Hagler-Anderson Chapel. Following the memorial service, interment will be at the Montana State Veterans Cemetery at Fort Harrison.

Family and friends will gather at the American Legion Post 2 in Helena after interment, to celebrate Willis Arthur Woolett's life.