WILLARD MECKER

JACKSON -- Willard O. "Buck" Mecker, 82, of Jackson died Tuesday, Feb. 24, 1998, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau.

He was born April 9, 1915, at McBride, son of Oscar E. and Lula C. Brewer Mecker. He married Lillie Garland Ridings Oct. 16, 1948. She died Nov. 3, 1980.

Mecker was a retired heavy equipment operator and farmer. He was a member of St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Cape Girardeau, and Hoisting Engineers Operators Local 513. He served in World War II with the Navy Seabees.

Survivors include two sons, Wayne Ridings of Overland, Charles Ridings of Millington, Tenn.; a daughter, Norma Blankenship of Benton; a brother, Paul Mecker of St. Charles; a sister, Caroline Lorenzen of Houston, Texas; 12 grandchildren; and 21 great-granchildren.

He was preceded in death by a brother and four sisters.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at Liley Funeral Home in Marble Hill.

Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home with the Rev. Paul Short officiating. Burial will be in Hurricane Fork Cemetery.