William Durward Fields Jr., 81, of Hillsboro died Sept. 20, 2024. Mr. Fields, a longtime resident of Valle Mines, was a Marine Corps veteran and served during the Vietnam War. He was a retired heavy equipment operator mechanic for J.H. Berra Construction. He enjoyed helping friends and often said that all he needed was, "a little bit of time and a kind word." Born Aug. 14, 1943, in Pine Bluff, Ark., he was the son of the late Mary Lee (Appling) and William Fields Sr.
He is survived by two daughters: Tabitha (Doug) Goforth of Hillsboro and Tara Fields of De Soto; a sister: Kaye Eineichner of Roseville, Mich.; six grandchildren: Justin (Ashley) Goforth, Austin (Gavyn) Goforth, Bobbie Michelle (Jordan) Collier, Jacob (Chloe) Boyer, Ryan (Karson) Fields and Dillon (Sonia) Fields; and 12 great-grandchildren: Reagan, Blake, Conrad, Hazel, Braxton, Camden, Haylee, Hadley, Rosten, Cohen, Brayson and Brently.
He was preceded in death by a son: Michael Fields; two great-grandsons: Denton Fields and Huxley Fields; and a brother: James Darrell Fields.
Visitation is scheduled from 5-8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 24, at Robert D. Brown Funeral Home, 103 4th St., in Hillsboro. A funeral service is scheduled for 11 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 25, at the funeral home. Burial will follow in the National Cemetery at Jefferson Barracks. Arrangements are under the direction of Robert D. Brown Funeral Home.