WILLARD TALLEY

JACKSON -- Willard E. Talley, 86, of Jackson died Tuesday, Sept. 17, 1996, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau.

He was born April 27, 1910, west of Jackson, son of Walter B. and Flora Browning Talley. He and Della Statler were married March 2, 1929. She died April 23, 1981.

Talley farmed in Bollinger and Cape Girardeau counties from 1929-57. He moved to Jackson where he owned and operated Talley MFA Oil Co. 25 years and also owned and operated Talley Ice Co. He worked for the State of Missouri Department of Weights and Measures from 1980-84.

He was ordained a deacon at Millersville Baptist Church and had served as a deacon at First Baptist Church in Jackson.

Talley was a member of Shawnee Hills Baptist Church, Gideons International, Southeast Missouri Hospital Foundation, Million Dollar Club and Mended Hearts Club at Southeast Hospital.

He participated in Region 8 Senior Olympics at Poplar Bluff and won several awards. He was a past president of Jackson Senior Citizens, and helped acquire the Senior Center building.

Survivors include five sons, Donald and Robert G. Talley of Cape Girardeau, Leon Talley of San Jose, Calif., Dean Talley of Soldotna, Alaska, Larry Talley of Fenton; two sisters, Mabel Seabaugh of Jackson, Helen Schnare of St. Charles; nine grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; two stepgrandchildren; and three great-stepgrandchildren.

He was preceded in death by two brothers and two sisters.

Friends may call at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson from 4-8 p.m. today.

Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Mark Anderson officiating. Burial will be in Russell Heights Cemetery.