William Gary Levis

HELENA - William Gary Levis, 7, of Helena, died of undetermined causes Sunday at his home.
Visitation begins this morning at Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home in Helena and continues until 4 p.m. Thursday. A vigil service is 6 p.m. Thursday at St. Mary's Catholic Community. Funeral Mass is 12:10 p.m. Friday at St. Mary's Catholic Community, with burial in Resurrection Cemetery.
Will died unexpectedly Sunday afternoon, May 16, following one of the best weekends ever.
Will was born in Helena on Feb. 21, 2003, five weeks early, possibly hoping to attend a baby shower being held in his honor the next day. His parents, Philip Levis and Charity Watt Levis, were the luckiest people in the world to have such a perfect son for seven blessed years.
Will was a first-grader at Jefferson Elementary School. He mostly enjoyed recess and getting picked up at the end of the day, but also making new friends and playing with his buddies. Everyone was proud of the strides he was making in reading, even chapter books, and math.
Will loved going to the job site and working with "the boys" on his dad's construction projects. He loved playing in the clubhouse his dad built him high above the ground. But, most of all, he loved his dad.
Will had a fascination with World War II movies, books and computer games. He enjoyed creating battles with his army men, and engaging in "real" battle with his buddies and an arsenal of Nerf guns. Swimming and riding his bike were summer staples. He was planning to attend GrandStreet camp and karate camp this summer.
Always eager to help, he was a great hand to Grandpa in the garden and his mom on any project that involved tools. Thursdays were "Gramma Day." His grandparents would pick him up right after school so they could all spend the afternoon together, something he always looked forward to.
Will also looked forward to spending time with his cousins; his "old cousins" (college age) in Cut Bank, his "Watt cousins" in Great Falls, his "girl cousins" in Hobson and his "Butte cousins."
Will was a joker and a good-natured kid. He cared deeply about all around him and seemed to touch the hearts of everyone he met. This will continue after his death, as many families who will never know Will receive a gift of life. He will also be remembered as the best T-shirt salesman ever at the farmers market.
Will and his mom had the best conversations while jumping on the trampoline in the back yard. They were regulars at Target, lunching often at the deli there. The two spent a good part of each day just having a cuddle and pondering life, and people who come with it.
The love for Will reached all the way to Australia, where his Grandpa Billie and aunties live. They did not see each other often, but spoke frequently.
Will is survived by his parents; grandparents Rosalie and Gary Watt of Helena, and William and Helen Levis of Melbourne, Australia; Great-Grandma Ella Mae Cunneen of Butte; aunt Sheila Koepke and uncle Mike of Cut Bank; aunt Sharon Stevenson and uncle Doug of Hobson; uncle Steve Watt and aunt Darleen of Hobson; uncle Pat Watt and aunt Amy of Great Falls; aunties Elly, Paula, Bianca, and Katie Levis, all of Melbourne; cousins Tyson of Pullman, Wash., Drew of Missoula, and Ashley Koepke of Great Falls; cousins Schuyler, Keenan, Riley and Erin Watt of Great Falls; cousins Brittany, Leisa and Nicole Stevenson of Hobson; cousins Codi and Kali Hauff of Hobson; numerous second cousins and great aunts and uncles; plus a very dear extended family of aunts and uncles including Chuck Siefert, Martha Dutch, Danny Prieto, Kurt Cooper, Kim Sell, Gina Satterfield and Korie Van Eimeren.
Will was preceded in death by his dog, Zorro.
A memorial fund in Will's name has been established at Trico Community Federal Credit Union in Helena for the benefit of Jefferson School.
A kind, caring and charming boy, he was never shy about using his gorgeous eyelashes and compliments such as, "my little sweetie heart" to his benefit.
Condolences may be posted online at www.stevensonandsons.com and/or www.gftribune.com/obituaries.