Garis Sr.

William Eugene Garis Sr., 86, of Emlenton, a World War II veteran, died at 9:30 p.m. Friday at the Clarview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center following a short illness.

Born in Turnip Hole, Clarion County, July 2, 1923, he was the son of Carlton Stover and Mildred Irene Fox Garis.

Mr. Garis graduated from Sligo High School in 1941.

Mr. Garis served in World War II as a waist gunner on the B-17 Flying Fortress, the "Classy Chassy," from 1942 to 1944. His experiences are published in "Twenty-Six Missions over Nazi Europe."

Bill owned and operated the Turnip Hole General Store for 24 years with his wife, Mildred. He was a rural mail carrier for the Emlenton Post Office and retired in 1978.

Bill was a 53-year member of the Canby Masonic Lodge 520 F&AM of St. Petersburg.Bill enjoyed hunting and fishing. He was an avid collector of Native American artifacts. He also collected antiques and historical memorabilia, attending many auctions with his wife.Surviving are a son, William E. Garis Jr. and his wife, Cheryl, of Emlenton; a daughter, Yvonne Murray of Bluefield, W.Va.; six grandchildren, Wally Page and his wife, Kim, Tim Garis, Bill Garis and his wife, Terrin, Fallon Garis, Tanya Clifford and her husband, Matthew, and Lana Murray; and four great-grandchildren, Kyle Page, Trevor Page, Blaine Murray and Willie Garis.Bill was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Mildred Ann Henderson Garis; his son, Dennis Scott Garis; his grandson, Steven Brent Garis; and his brother, Russell Garis.

<B>GARIS </B>— Friends of William Eugene Garis Sr., who died Friday, Nov. 13, 2009, will be received from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the <B>Hile Funeral Home</B>, 802 Grove St., St. Petersburg. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at the funeral home with the Rev. Daniel Myers, pastor of the St. Petersburg United Methodist Church, officiating. Interment will follow in the St. Petersburg Cemetery with military honors accorded by the Foxburg American Legion Miller-Rankin Post 636 and the Parker VFW Roy Calvin McGinnis Post 7073.Masonic services will be held at 8:45 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Petersburg United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 281, St. Petersburg, PA 16054 or to the Big Bend United Methodist Church, c/o Nancy Wood, 780 Highlands Road, Emlenton, PA 16373.For additional information, directions, or to send a condolence, please visit www.hilefh.com.