Willie Thomas Dhority, Sr., 76, of Stover MO, died Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2005 at the University of Missouri Medical Center in Columbia, MO.

He was born July 3, 1928 in Mississippi, the son of Ollie and Annie Estelle O'Conner Dhority. In 1949, while stationed in Japan with the Army, he was married to Hisako, who preceded him in death in 1990.

Mr. Dhority, attended school in Keiser, AR and severed in the Army. He was a Korean War veteran, retired as a Sergeant 1st Class and received an honorable discharge after 21 years of service. He was stationed in Japan where he as the maintenance supervisor for more than 200 helicopters. He then worked as a longshoreman in San Francisco, CA. He belonged to the IL WA-PMA Labor Union.

His hobbies included gardening, reading, politics, collecting baseball cards, traveling, watching sports and restoring old cars.

He moved to Sedalia MO. in 1993 to be closer to his family. He enjoyed spending time with his sisters, whether chatting on the porch or sharing breakfast and lunch. His grandchildren, son and daughter-n-law were important part of his life.

He is survived by one son, Willie (Will) Dhority, Jr. of Franklin ME, three brothers, Oscar and Kirt Dhority of Parsons, TN, and Louis Dhority of LaGuanitas, CA; six sisters,
Anna (Dhority) Benitz and Martha (Dhority) Petree of Sedalia, MO, Lucy (Dhority) Swaby of Wynne AR, Yvionne (Bonnie) (Dhority) Eaton of Arlington, TN, Lois (Dhority) Earnhart of Holladay, TN and Patsy (Dhority) Curtis of Olney, MD.; six grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

He was also predeceased by a son Richard Dhority in 1999; three sisters, Molly Dhority Davis, Jewell Dhority Delph and Audrey Jean Dhority Acuff and two siblings who died in infancy, Ollie Dhority Jr. and Donnie Mae Dhority.

Burial will be in Skylawn Memorial Park cemetery in San Mateo, CA.