Willis E. McClammy, 64, of Poplar, Montana passed away April 5, 2024, in Billings, Montana. A graveside service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, April 13, 2024, at the Poplar City Cemetery.
I was born in Poplar, Montana on November 7, 1959. I enlisted in the Army in November of 1976, shortly after turning 17 years old.
I started out with Basic Training at Fort Dix, New Jersey, then on to Advanced Individual Training at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, thirteen miles from Washington D.C.
I was then stationed at Fort Hood, Texas where I was assigned to the 1 st Battalion, 50 th Infantry, 2 nd Armored Division. My Battalion went to Germany in 1978 on Operation Reforger. After returning to the United States, I was discharged in December of 1979 with a rank of Private First Class.
When I got back from the Army, I broke out working in the oilfield with my stepdad, E.J. “The Hand” Reddoor. I ended up working for fifteen different drilling companies for the next 30 years, usually as a motorman. I was 55 the last time I rough-necked. During this time, I would rough neck in the winter and went firefighting in the summer. I worked 25 seasons as a Wildland Firefighter for the B.I.A. During this time, I was dispatched across the United States.
Then in March of 2014, I found myself homeless. I moved into the Fort Peck Warriors Center in Poplar, where I got my GED and went to work fencing for the Fort Peck Tribes Range program. I transferred to the Tribes IRR Program as a janitor/maintenance employee for six years until being diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer. After that it was a lot of T.V. and going to church when I felt okay.
I want to thank all my sisters: Faith, Haven, Velvet, Gaynell, Delrae, and my nieces: Cherry, Ivy, Mauri, Tessy, Chanel, Rainey, and Lacey for taking such good care of me.
I had eight children: Kyle and Reanna in Poplar, Jubal, Jettison, and Adelle from Paula Owens in Poplar, John D in Fort Kipp, and two stepchildren, Chance and Cyrenna Standing in Wolf Point. My daughters Reanna and Adelle have passed and that’s the end of that.
I am survived by my wife, Brenda (Dionne) McClammy; sisters: Faith (Dun) O’Connor, Haven (Frank) Gourneau, Velvet (Bo) Schneider, Gaynell McClammy, Delrae Reddoor, and Jonny Lee Bearcub/Stiffarm; my children left are Jubal McClammy, Jettison McClammy John D. McClammy and Kyle. Plus, a whole bunch of grandkids! Two brothers Resse Reddoor and George McClammy have passed away and I have two left, Pat McClammy and Robert “Pinner” McClammy.