Willis H. Sohler, 81, a resident of the Gaston community passed away on October 19, 2018 at the Willamette Valley Medical Center in McMinnville, OR.

Willis was born on June 17, 1937 at home in Bethany, OR. He was the fifth child of eight children born to William and Barbara (Hillecke) Sohler. Willis attended a one room school in Bethany and in the second grade his family moved to Verboort. Willis attended Visitation Catholic Grade School and graduated from Verboort High School with the Class of 1956.

He enlisted in to the US Marine Corp and served his country in Palm Desert as a heavy equipment operator and he received the sharpshooter medal. He was honorably discharged.

Willis met his wife, Kay Miller, while at a dance. They soon began dating and they married on May 8, 1965 in Verboort, OR. Following their marriage they made their home in on a farm in Gaston, they had three children; Jennifer, Jim and Joe. They later divorced in 1988 but stayed close friends.

Willis started working at a young age, first in the fields in and around Verboort and when he was an adult he started working for Blue Ribbon Steel Buildings. Three years later Willis started his own business "Willis Sohler Construction" building pole barns. He had built barns throughout the Northwest, and even built some in California, Montana and Arizona.

He enjoyed being in the outdoors often times fishing, camping or looking for a mineral spring. Willis was also a farmer, raising cattle, hay and grains. He liked to hum and sing to himself because he enjoyed working so much. He loved to listen to Polka music He was gentle spirited and a real kindness about him that all could see the moment they met him. Willis and some of his siblings would go to the Mt Angel October festival in Mt. Angel.

He is preceded in death by his parents, a son Jim and four siblings; Pauline Vandehey, Marie Vandehey, Robert Sohler and Edward Sohler.

He is survived by his two children; Jennifer Sohler of Gaston, Joe Sohler of Gaston, three siblings; Madeline Turner, Ronald Sohler and Sr. Barbara Sohler, six grandchildren; Dawn, Stephanie, Ashlee, Matthew, Annalisa and Jessica and two great grand children; Jaden and Skyla.