Willie Gould

GOULD, Mr. Willie James, Sr. - Age 77, passed away Saturday, September 17, 2011. Family hour 10 a.m. Saturday, September 24, 2011 at Vernon Chapel AME Church, 5802 Dupont St., with funeral service commencing at 11 a.m. Rev. Anthony Watson officiating, Pastor Ernest J. Garrison, Sr., Host Pastor. Interment Sunset Hills Association, G-4413 Flushing Rd. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the church 10 a.m. Saturday. Mr. Gould will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd., and may be viewed from 12Noon-8 p.m. Friday. Mr. Willie James Gould, Sr., was born May 13, 1934 in Flint, Michigan, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph and Emma (Ross) Gould. He attended Flint Northern High School. Willie retired from Chevrolet Metal Fabricating, a division of General Motors and was a member of UAW Local 659. He loved all music, with jazz being his favorite and he knew the history of jazz well. Willie enjoyed composing music and would often write songs for his children. Some of his favorite musicians and singers were, John Coltrane, Pharaoh Sanders, Horace Silver, Miles Davis and Sara Vaughan. Willie played the saxophone, piano and organ with "My Funny Valentine", Moon Rivers" and "Mr. Magic", being his favorite songs to play. He also enjoyed swimming, exercising at the health spa, traveling, reading and attending jazz festivals. Willie often flew to California to attend all the major concerts and was looking forward to attending two more in Canada and Switzerland. He was always smiling and loved just relaxing, talking to his children, family and friends, going to the movies, church, listening to gospel music, and bowling, which he was voted the most improved bowler in his league. One of his most recent hobbies was learning Spanish. Since he retired he especially enjoyed spending time with his sister, brother-in-law and their great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. He leaves to cherish his memory: 2 daughters, Caletha and LaVeta; son, Willie Jr.; sister, Helen (Howard “Beaver”) Turner; sisters-in-law, Clara and Estella Gould and Patty Dean Poplar; nieces, Gaynell, Beartrice, Carla, Patricia, Hermetta, Demeen and Joycine; nephews, Joe, Larry, Howard Jr., Louis, Cedric, Erskine, Stanley, Shelly and Leon; cousin, Noah Shumpert; a host of great-grand nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends including special friends, Eloise Jones, Don and Debra Fader, Rev. Fisher, Watson Family, Margie Benthin, Rev. Dough and Michelle Wright, Lane Ellis, John and Dot Allen, William and Linda Wesley, Ron and Maricel Newton, Rachel Torres, James Patton, Dorothy Houston, Guidera Family Walter and Deborah Fryar, Eugene Tucker and his piano instructor, Jimmie Jones. Mr. Gould was preceded in death by his loving wife, Mary Gould; parents; stepmother, Alice; 2 sisters, Ionie and Lucille; 4 brothers, Warren, Roy, John “JC”, Charlie “SV”; nephews, Craig, Brian “Stevie”, Darnell, Keith, and Lazar; sister-in-law, Erisden “Tina” Hodo-Davis. The family would like to express special thanks to Dr. Bauer, Dr. Bhaghat, Dr. Singh and McLaren Regional Medical Center staff.

Willie Gould

May 13, 1934 - September 17, 2011