Willis Vernon Bloyd was born on September 17, 1921, in Fairbury to Arthur Garfield and Myrtle Catherine (Austin) Bloyd and passed away on April 10, 2017 in Seward, Nebraska at the age of 95 years, 6 months, 24 days. Willis graduated from Fairbury High School. He served in the U.S. Navy during WWII and the Nebraska State Guard. Willis was united in marriage to Harriett Ellen Boyd on February 1, 1946 at Stanton, Nebraska. Their marriage was blessed with one daughter, Susan. They moved to Seward in 1946.   He was the owner of Modern Shoe Repair and Shoe Store for many years. Willis was a longtime member and served on various committees of the United Methodist Church. He was a member of the Seward Dowding Swimming Pool Board and Park Board, the School District of Seward Board of Education, the Seward Foundation and Memorial Health Care Systems Board of Directors. Willis was a member of American Legion Post #33 and a life member of Seward VFW Post #4755

Willis is preceded in death by his wife, Harriett Bloyd; father and mother, Arthur and Myrtle Bloyd; brother, Levi Bloyd; brother and sister-in-law, Austin and Margaret Bloyd; sister and brother-in-law, May and Spencer Schemmerhorn; son-in-law, Dan Blackwell.

Survivors include his daughter, Susan Blackwell of Lincoln; grandson, Vernon Blackwell and wife Chantel; great grandchildren, Deacon and Evie; sisters-in-law, Charlotte Gaughenbaugh, Republican City, Joyce Riley, Des Moines, IA; nieces and nephews; friends: Jack and Betty Aegerter, Eldon and Nancy Lindquist, Duane and Mary Miner, Don and Barb Suhr, Van and Becky Vahle, all of Seward.