Willie L. Hereford Sr.

DIXON – Willie Leamon Hereford Sr., 82, of Dixon, died Sunday, April 14, 2013, at his home. He worked as a mechanic for Commonwealth Edison for 35 years, retiring in 1991.

Willie was born March 10, 1931, in Toney, Ala., the son of Robert and Annie (Odell) Hereford. He married Julie Weaver on Oct. 28, 1985, in Monroe, Wis. He proudly served in the Army in the Korean War. Willie took pride in his job at Commonwealth Edison. He was an avid Chicago Bears and Chicago White Sox fan.

Survivors include his wife of Dixon; two sons, Brian (Mary) Hereford of Elgin and Leamon (Charlene) Hereford Jr. of Dixon; four grandsons, Jacob Alexander Hereford of Chicago, Corey Micheal King of Dixon, Quintin Justin (Tiffany Hewlett) Hereford of Brooklyn, N.Y., and Christian Leamon Russell Hereford of Dixon; two great-grandchildren, Nya Hereford and Celeste Hereford; six sisters, Annette (Robert) Ashford, Jeanette (Ron) Burton, Alice Collins, Julia (Carl) Hardin, Georgia Turner, and Verzelia Young; and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Lawrence Albert Hereford; one brother, Daniel Hereford; and four sisters, Barbara Smith, Curtis Love, Thelma Hereford, and Johnnie Odell.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Preston-Schilling Funeral Home in Dixon.  The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Vincent Marrandino, director of pastoral care at KSB Hospital in Dixon, officiating. Cremation rites will be accorded.

A memorial has been established.

Visit www.prestonschillingfuneralhome.com to send condolences.