Clyde W. Willyard, 93, of Farmington, New Mexico passed away on Friday, March 4, 2022. He was born August 1, 1928 in Del Norte, Colorado to Clyde H. and Garnet May Willyard. He attended school in Del Norte until his family moved to Farmington in 1939 where he attended Farmington Junior High School. Two years later in 1941 his family moved to Flora Vista and Willis attended Aztec High School from which he graduated in 1946. Aside from his studies there was not much of anything other than some occasional bullying which was taken in stride.
In the meantime his father did farming and his mother taught school. After six (6) years his father gave up farming and moved back to Farmington and went to work for Southern Union Gas Co. from which he retired and his mother taught school at McCormick and Apache from which she retired.

Willis' mind was made up to be an engineer and so after graduating from High School he enrolled in New Mexico State University in Las Cruces. Here he selected Mechanical Engineer and found it to be indoor work and so switched to Civil Engineer. His studies were interrupted by going into the Army at Fort Bliss, Texas for two (2) years, 1950-1952. During which time he took nine (9) months course in Radar. He returned to College and resumed his Engineering studies and also had a mandatory four (4) year Army Reserve.
Willis graduated from the University in 1954 and served a four year apprenticeship ending in 1958 and at which time he was licensed for not only New Mexico but Arizona as well.
He was Project Engineer on I-25 and I-40 creating four (4) lanes in ten (10) mile stretches. Willis also worked all over New Mexico – Raton, Clayton and wherever his work was needed. He retired in 1982. He joined the Hillbilly Band in 1986 and his mother also became a loyal member and stayed with the band as long as her health permitted.
Over the years Willis has been our electrical wizard by that I mean he has bought many speakers, microphones, control boxes at his own expense. This side issue is one of his pleasures and another is his love of dogs of which he has several. When we can't get things to work we turn to Willis. So many things that he does are just too numerous to set forth.
Suffice to say Willis is one great guy and a true friend.
Memorial Graveside Service will be held:
Thursday, May 5, 2022 at 11:00 a.m.
Greenlawn Cemetery, Farmington, New Mexico
With Military Honors by The American Legion Totah Post 93