Wayne R. Willey

NEPTUNE BEACH, FL – 160th Belchertown Fair -The Fairest of them all! September 22, 23 and 24, 2017. Wayne R. Willey flew up on Delta Air Lines to BDL, not on a Non-Revenue Pass, but as a full fare cargo passenger, paid by his sister, who was carrying out his wish to bring him home. We’ll finally have you here at the 160th Belchertown Fair! The family will gather to greet relatives and friends at a wake on Friday, September 22, 2017 from 5:00-7:30 PM at New England Funeral & Cremation Center, LLC, 25 Mill Street, Springfield, MA 01108. Funeral services celebrating Wayne’s life will be held on Saturday, September 23, 2017 from the funeral center at 8:15 AM followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial in St. Cecilia’s Church, 42 Main Street, Wilbraham, MA at 10 AM, concelebrated by The Reverend Father Daniel J. Boyle and The Reverend Father Michael J.Twohig. Rites of Committal will follow in the family plot in Quabbin Park Cemetery. A reception will follow at the home of his sister in Belchertown. You never forgot us, Wayne. The next time we’ll see you will be in Heaven. Wayne R. Willey, 67, left us on Saturday, August 26, 2017 in Jacksonville, Florida. Visitation was from 11:00 AM -1:00 PM on Friday, September 1, 2017 at Quinn-Shalz Funeral Home in Jacksonville Beach with a service at 1:00 PM. The Reverend Stephen C. Britt officiated. A reception followed at The Plantation at Ponte Vedra, graciously hosted by members. Wayne was born in Brooklyn, NY on May 31, 1950, the son of the late Harold W. and Alice T.(Puta) Willey and was raised in Belchertown, MA, graduating from Belchertown High School in 1968. He arrived in Jacksonville, FL in 1968 to attend college and soon fell in love with Neptune Beach, making it his home. He graduated from Jacksonville University in 1972 with a Bachelor of Science in Management, earned his Master of Business Administration from Springfield College in 1974 and fulfilled another major in Physical Education from Jacksonville University in 1975. Wayne was a coach and taught Physical Education at Atlantic Beach Elementary School and Sandalwood High School. He then began a 26-year career with Delta Air Lines. After his retirement from Delta Air Lines, Wayne worked a wide variety of part time jobs which gave him the opportunity to interact with people and stay active. These jobs included valet attendant for The Plantation at Ponte Vedra, Fan Experience Representative for the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp baseball club (formerly the Jacksonville Suns) and supervisor for SAFE, a company that combines security with guest services for major sporting events in JAX. He worked for the Jaguars home football games, the Florida-Georgia games as well as sports events and concerts. He volunteered for the City of Neptune Beach to help manage their election process on voting days. He created a business that was popular before UBER where he would take travelers to and from the airport. He also enjoyed biking, running, swimming, working out in the gym, and working in his yard. He is survived by his wife, Kathy; Devon E. McKanna, whom he regarded as a daughter, and her husband Shaun; sister, Darlene Willey Sliwa; nieces, Darlene W. Sliwa and her husband, Bjorn Markeson and Dr. Donielle F. Sliwa and her husband, Morgan T. Wilson; great niece, Abigail Grace Markeson; brother-in-law, Donald F. Sliwa; many cousins and their families, lifelong friend, Jim Lovett and 43-year friend, Steve Smith. May God hold you in the hollow of his hand. For further information and directions visit www.nefcc.net

Wayne R. Willey

May 31, 1950 - August 26, 2017