Willie was born in a log house on a farm at the north end of Osnabruck Township, the youngest of eight children. He worked on the family farm and went to high school in Finch. Willie and Rosemary Empey married in 1957 and by 1961 they had three children and a 500 acre farm. At any given time, it wasn’t uncommon to see a rag-tag bunch of people hanging around the farm when the children were younger. There were horse people and cattle people and in later years dog people. There were people who enjoyed the comforts of life and those who had very little. Once they came they generally kept coming back! Willie excelled at cultivating friendships. He was particularly fond of young people. He made, a lasting impression on many a young life and had a profound influenced on what some of these young men and women would later make of their lives. In fact, all the while, Willie was sharing with his family lessons of tolerance and a legacy of generosity and acceptance.
St. Matthew’s was, for Willie, a place to exercise his faith in his Lord Jesus, enjoying music, fellowship and projects to benefit the congregation. He made lasting friends with his Christian brothers and sisters. Often he could be found happily working in the kitchen, cooking, preparing and generally puttering around with a twinkle in his eye while he served and supported others in his good humoured way.
Willie was a supporter. He was so proud of his family, of his wife Rosemary, of his friends and his church. He was a believer in possibilities. He knew if you could put your mind to it, much could be accomplished. His positive approach to things, his sincere hard work, his supportiveness and his humility will be long remembered by friends and family. Willie was a blessing to us and he will be dearly missed.