Mr. Seldovia has passed away,' police chief says </MCC HEAD>

Story last updated at 9:01 PM on Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Mr. Seldovia has passed away,' police chief says

BY MICHAEL ARMSTRONG

BY MICHAEL ARMSTRONG
STAFF WRITER

When the power went out in Seldovia, the go-to guy who fired up the town's emergency generator was Gerald W. Willard, a 31-year employee of Homer Electric Association. A former fire chief, Willard kept his pants rolled up in his boots, firefighter style.

"Whenever the lights went out, he'd swing his feet around into his shoes, and get his pants on," said a longtime friend, Cheryl Reynolds. "He could start the generator from in bed to going within nine minutes."

Willard, 70, died at home July 28. A little after midnight, the power went out in Seldovia, Port Graham and Nanwalek when a tree fell on a powerline.

"It's Gerry saying good-bye," Reynolds said people said that night when the town went dark. "It's Gerry's good-bye to everyone."

Willard was born Sept. 8, 1938, in Norfolk, Va., to Robert and Ruth M. Willard. He grew up in Tacoma, Wash., and attended Lincoln High School there. He served in the U.S. Navy for four years and later in the U.S. Civil Service in Vietnam and Thailand. Willard moved to Alaska in 1963, and lived in Delta Junction, Cape Lisbourne, Kodiak, Anchorage, Soldotna, Kenai and North Kenai before moving to Seldovia in 1972.

"As far back as I can remember he has always been the one to make people laugh, no matter what the situation -- the one who was there to help you when you felt like there was no hope.

He was a man who did whatever he could to be there for his family and friends."

-- Meagan L. Willard of her grandfather Gerald W. Willard who died July 28

Willard worked for 24 years as HEA's Seldovia area service coordinator and three years as safety coordinator. He retired briefly, only to return a few months later to serve as the town's part-time power plant operator.

Neighbors remember him as a man always ready to help out. He served the town as mayor, council member, city manager, fire chief, emergency medical technician and EMT instructor and Fourth of July coordinator.

"He just loved people. He'd go out of his way to help people," said Willard's friend, Seldovia Police Chief Andy Anderson. "Everything he did was for family and friends."

"He was always there," Reynolds said. "He's been one of the elders for the whole community. He just had his heart, pockets and mind open for everyone," she added.

When his oldest daughter, Lynnette, died, Willard and his wife of 49 years, Alberta, took her children into their home.

"As far back as I can remember he has always been the one to make people laugh, no matter what the situation -- the one who was there to help you when you felt like there was no hope," his granddaughter Meagan L. Willard said. "He was a man who did whatever he could to be there for his family and friends."

Willard loved music and played the guitar, piano, banjo, accordion, violin, mandolin, harmonica, bongo drums and spoons. He enjoyed shooting, skeet, doing body and fender work and collecting antiques.

Anderson and Willard organized the annual Fuzz Ball, a fundraiser for the police. They had a running joke where they would give each other livestock. Willard gave Anderson two pigs, Buford and Rosebud, and Anderson gave him a goat in return, Wilbur, which Willard would lead around town.

Reynolds said he was the town's auctioneer at charity events.

"Gerry could sell you an empty milk carton," she said.

Willard is survived by his wife 49 Years, Alberta G. Willard, his brother Robert F. (Whitey) Willard and his wife Phyllis, son Kenneth W. Willard and his wife Carol, son Matthew A. Willard and his wife Gretchen, his daughter Kathryn M. Willard, his son Michael P. Willard and his wife Griebe, 17 grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and four nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert W. Willard and Ruth M. Willard, and his daughter Lynnette E. White.

Services were held Aug. 1 in Seldovia.

"He will be greatly missed, not just by myself, but everybody in the community," Anderson said. "Mr. Seldovia has passed away."

Michael Armstrong can be reached at michael.armstrong.@homernews.com.