Willis McClammy

Willis E. McClammy, 64, of Poplar died April 5, 2024, in Billings.

He was born in Poplar on Nov. 7, 1959.

He enlisted in the Army in November of 1976, shortly after turning 17 years old. He attended Basic Training at Fort Dix, N.J., then went to Advanced Individual Training at Fort Belvoir, Va., 13 miles from Washington, D.C. He was then stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, where he was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 50th Infantry, 2nd Armored Division. My Battalion went to Germany in 198 on Operation Feforger. After returning to the United States, he was discharged in December 1979 with a rank of Private First Class.

When he got back from the Army, he went to work in the oilfield with his step-father, E.J. “The Hand” Reddoor. He worked for 15 different drilling companies for the next 30 years, usually as a motorman. He was 55 the last time he roughnecked. During this time, he roughnecked in the winter and went firefighting in the summer. He worked 25 seasons as a wildland firefighter for the Bureau of Indian Affairs. During this time, he was dispatched across the United States.

In March 2014, he found himself homeless. He moved into the Fort Peck Warriors Center in Poplar, where he got my GED and went to work fencing for the Fort Peck Tribes Range program. He 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 TV and going to church when he felt okay.

He had eight children: Kyle and Reanna in Poplar, Jubal, Jettison and Adelle from Paula Owens in Poplar, John D in Fort Kipp, and two step-children, Chance and Cyrenna Standing in Wolf Point.

Daughters, Reanna and Adelle; and two brothers, Resse Reddoor and George McClammy, preceded him in death.

He is survived by his wife, Brenda (Dionne) McClammy; sisters, Faith O’Connor, Haven Gourneau, Velvet Schneider, Gaynell McClammy, Delrae Reddoor and Johnny Lee Bearcub/Stiffarm; and two brothers, Pat McClammy and Robert “Pinner” McClammy.

A graveside service will held at 1 p.m., Saturday, April 13, at the Poplar City Cemetery.