Travis Funeral Chapel

Willard Gene Moncrief, 88, of LaPlata, Missouri, passed away Tuesday (June 24, 2014) at Samaritan Hospital in Macon, Missouri.

The son of Herbert and Blanche (Shouse) Moncrief, he was born September 1, 1925 in LaPlata, Missouri. Willard attended grade school at Star and Gopher Hill rural schools and graduated from Brashear High School in 1943.T/5 (Technician 5) Willard Moncrief served with the 29th Infantry in Rhineland, Central Europe and Germany during WW II. He was discharged in 1946 after being hospitalized for 3 months. He worked for Ford Motor Co. in Kansas City. He returned to La Plata and worked for Weber GMC in Kirksville. He spent 45 years farming.

He married Jewell Imogene Hood on December 10, 1946 who survives. He is also survived by one brother, Bobby Joe Moncrief (Bonnie), one sister, Ida May Parsons (Richard); two grandchildren Mandy Lynn Shull & Family and Steven Lea Hunt and family; several nieces, nephews and cousins; and Sherry Haig’s children who adopted him as Grampy.

Preceding him in death were his parents, his step-mother, Grace (Patterson), step-sister, Evelyn (Patterson) Maize (Denny), half-sister, Ruth Ann Knox and brother-in-law, Dale Knox.

Public visitation will be held from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. Friday (June 27, 2014) at Travis Funeral Chapel in LaPlata.

Graveside services with military honors will be held 2:00 p.m. Friday (June 27, 2014) at the LaPlata Cemetery, with John Gorham officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to DAV Chapter 48 of Kirksville, MO, or to the donor’s choice. Memorials may be left at or mailed to Travis Funeral Chapel, 125 S. Church, LaPlata, MO 63549.