Obituary of George Andrew Willard

In loving memory of George Andrew (Drew) Willard, age 61, of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, who died Tuesday, January 28, 2014 at MD Anderson Hospital in Houston, Texas. He was born April 22, 1952, in Birmingham, Alabama, the son of George Ward Willard and Abbie Knight Willard. Drew attended Auburn University and was a War Eagle fan his entire life. In later years he became a Builder/Contractor and developed a love for coffee that led him to open his own coffee shop, Coffee Grounz in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. He loved his family with an intensity not often seen in families now. Drew was a ‘doer’ who would do anything he could to help those he knew and loved. His greatest loves included the four-legged members of his family, his dogs AJ and Lacy. He is survived by his loving wife Barbara Jean Willard; his children Chad and Elizabeth Willard, Christopher Ryals and Thomas McClure, Melyssa and Todd Deveney; his grandchildren Noah and Ethan Deveney , Ashton and Tiffany Willard; his sister Abbie Willard; nieces Elissa Bantug, Sabra Thorner , and Micah Thorner; and great-nieces Samantha Benitez and Isabela Bantug. The family will hold a small viewing from 2-4 p.m. February 1 at Clayton Funeral Home in Pearland, Texas. A celebration of his life will be held on Saturday February the 8th in Fort Walton Beach, at Shoreline Church in Uptown Station from 10 -1. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in his name to the Lung Cancer Program at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center please specify for pediatric patient assistance. MDAnderson.org/giving or University of Texas MD Anderson cancer center donations, P.O. Box 4486 Huston, TX 77210-4486.