Rena V. Willard…August 6, 1927 – June 8, 2013

Graveside services for longtime Lamar, CO resident, Rena Willard, will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday, June 21, 2013 at the Great Bend Cemetery in Great Bend, Kansas.

Rena Viva Willard was born August 6, 1927 in Belvidere, Kansas to William and Ina (Oyler) Howell.  She passed away on June 18, 2013 at Juniper Village in Lamar, CO at the age of 85.

Rena moved to Lamar from Great Bend, Kansas in 1961 with her husband, Jack and daughter, Jackie.  In 1964 she returned to Kansas due to her husband’s health.  During that return she took nurse’s aide training at Central Kansas Medical Center where she worked for a short time before returning to Lamar.  In 1965 Rena began working at Sacred Heart hospital which later became Prowers Medical Center, where she became well known for her compassion and hard work.  Rena enjoyed gardening, cooking, baking, reading and spending time with her dogs.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Jack in 1971.

Memorial contributions may be made to Prowers Medical Center Auxillary in care of Valley Memorial Funeral  Funeral arrangements are being handled by Valley Memorial Funeral Chapel in Lamar, CO.  For more information or to leave online condolences please visit www.valleymemorialfc.com.