Hartman Funeral Home

Family and Friends will gather at Nazarene Baptist Church in the Dunbar Community, Love County, Saturday morning at 11 a.m. to celebrate the life of Willie Robert Lornes, also known as Will. A lifetime resident of Love County, Will, the youngest of ten children, was born to Jess and Vester (Hornbeak) Lornes Feb. 11, 1947. Will grew up in the Dunbar Community and graduated from Turner High School with the Class of 1966. He then entered the U.S. Army and served during the Viet Nam Conflict. He received an honorable discharge. Will retired from Michelin Tire Plant. He had a great love for Nature, a passion for hunting deer, turkeys, plus anything else that crossed his path. He plowed and planted turnips for the deer, but he always planted a vegetable garden. Everybody loved Will! He loved food and enjoyed cooking on his grill, especially hamburgers, and sharing the meal with anyone who joined him. Will loved foods, which included deviled eggs and banana pudding. He had a passion for “Big Toys” such as a John Deer Tractor and a Gator. Will had a horse, which he would ride in the Frontier Parade. When asked his horse’s name, he answered, “What’s wrong with Horse?” Without even a “So Long,” Will departed this life at his home, and was found by friends Monday evening, April 23, 2018. He is preceded in death by his parents; siblings, Ruby Lornes, Jessie Lornes, Rozella Walker, and Imaleta Sheets; 2 sons, Derrick Halstied and Kyle Pierce. Will is survived by the mother of his surviving children, Janice Pierce; a daughter, Susan Pierce, and a son, Robert “Todd” Pierce; siblings, Herman Lornes, Frank Lornes, Lucinda Hunter, JoEddie Gallimore, and L.J. Lornes. Following the services, Will will be laid to rest in Dunbar Cemetery. Rev. Eugene Bellard, Rev. Lawrence Anderson, and Robert Sheets will officiant the Celebration.  Bearers of the Bier are Frank L. Lornes, Dewayne Sheets, Larry Snell, Tommy Fox, Charles Hartman, Anthony Brown, Milton Dailey and Tony Swint.  Viewal will be held in Kirk Funeral Home Chapel Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Daily Ardmoreite)