Willis "Willy" Lee Tarbet, 75; of Grace passed away peacefully at his home on Tuesday, February 7, 2012.

He was born on December 11, 1936 in Grace, Idaho the son of William Kenneth and LeOra Hayes Tarbet.

Willy was raised and educated in Grace, Idaho. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1956 to 1960 and while serving he lived in California, Hawaii and Alaska.

He attended ISU and received a BS degree in Biology and Geology. He worked for Simplot until he retired.

Willy married Monte Ann Sparks on December 31, 1973 in Elko, Nevada.

He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and also enjoyed working with the local scouts.

Willy was an avid fisherman and gardener and also enjoyed hunting, camping, reading, making fishing poles and loved spending time with his family.

He is survived by his wife Monte Ann of Grace, ID; two sons, Gary and Sally Tarbet of Pocatello, ID; Aaron and Tamara Tarbet of Bennington, ID; and two daughters, Fay and Jeff Anderson of Soda Springs, ID; Penny and Kerry Smedley of Hayden, ID. He is also survived by 20 grandchildren and 32 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and two older brothers, William K and Willard J .

Services will be held on Saturday, February 11, 2012 at 2 p.m. at the Grace Stake Center. The family will visit with friends on Friday evening from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Sims Funeral Home in Soda Springs and on Saturday morning from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Stake Center prior to services. Burial will be in the Grace Cemetery.