Willard (NMN) Law
Born: June 11, 1929
Mother: Ina Geckles – Law, Then later married Dude Hayes
Father: Bill Law
Born: In a farm house Grant (Marshall County), AL
Willard Law of Arab, AL passed away on Wednesday, September 27th, 2016 at approximately 1:32 pm. He lived all of his life in Marshall County.
He joined the Army National Guard in Arab in January 1948. At the age of 20, he attended basic training in Massachusetts and was later deployed to Korea where he served in the Korean War until 1952. Willard received an honorable discharge from the military in 1952. The highest grade held was a SFC. He received the following medals while in service: The Korean Service Medal with one Bronze Service Star; Occupational Medal (Japan); and United Nations Service Medal.
Willard returned to the States and moved to Arab where he has spent the remainder of his life. He worked at Blue Bell for a number of years, then worked as a heavy equipment operator and mechanic. The majority of his career was with the City Department of Arab, where he served as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), a volunteer fireman, and then a police dispatcher for approximately 18 years. He retired in 1989 to care for his oldest son, James, who was severely injured in a motorcycle accident in 1983. Willard and Helen took care of James in their home for approximately 15 years until he died.
Willard was known for his generosity. He loved gardening and was famous for his home grown greens. He posted a sign at the end of the garden that said, “free greens for your picking”. Folks would drive to pick his greens from as far as Huntsville and Hartselle.
Willard then found a love and passion for cooking BBQ which he donated to charities, churches and fundraisers. He even built his own BBQ pit behind the house. His BBQ was loved by all! He taught his BBQ cooking techniques to Kent Gibbs of Arab’s Optimists Club. As a result, they created a scholarship in his name and donated $1,000 each year for 17 years (a total of $17,000) to Arab High School.
Willard had other hobbies which including raising cattle and fishing with friends and family.
Occasionally, folks driving down Old Cullman Road may see Willard driving his John Deer tractor moving his grass at about 20 miles an hour. Sometimes, they may see him moving up towards Arab Junior High School.
Helen Elizabeth Lee – Law, married in 1963
Siblings:
Daisy Mae Stewart (Deceased)
Dillard (Deb) Law
Millard (Donald) Kirkland (Deceased)
Margie Faye Carroll
Gillard (Buck) Law (Deaceased)
Paul Law, Jr.
Patsy Ann Walker
Willard was preceded in death by two children: James Edward Law who died December 11, 1997 and Donna Kaye Law Calhoun who died January 10, 2014.
Surviving Children include:
Phillip Wayne Law
Sabrina Helen Law-Crane
Sonya Dee Law-Ellis
Kyle Willard Law
2 Step daughters, Renaye Hill and Joyce Daniell
Willard has 10 grandchildren, however one who has recently deceased (Barbie Law) and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was a member of God’s Way Ministries.
Pallbearers Robert “Rob” Law, Bobbie Treece, Michael Kirkland, Randall Kirkland, Kacie Law and Scottie Tirman. Honorary Pallbearer Bob Ellis.
