Fort Gratiot closing township offices early Friday for funeral of beloved colleague

Jackie Smith, Port Huron Times Herald
·1 min read
Wally Roe was a long-time Fort Gratiot employee with the township's fire and public works departments. He died Jan. 24, 2022, at the age of 67.
Wally Roe was a long-time Fort Gratiot employee with the township's fire and public works departments. He died Jan. 24, 2022, at the age of 67.

Fort Gratiot's township offices are closing early Friday, Supervisor Rob Crawford said, so staff can attend the funeral services of a beloved former long-time colleague.

Maurice "Wally" Roe, of Fort Gratiot, died on Monday at the age of 67, according to his obituary.

The township announced his passing in a Facebook post on Wednesday, recounting Roe's fun and affecting presence — that "you always knew Wally was near" with his laughter, loud "hello," and jokes and banter. Roe began working for the township's public works department in 1988 and also served on its fire department.

Township offices will close at 10 a.m. Friday. Funeral services, according to Pollock-Randall Funeral Home, are set for 11:30 a.m. that day at the First Presbyterian Church.

Crawford said even after he retired, Roe still worked seasonally, including the week before New Years. The two also went to school together, and he said he saw Roe at a recent employee holiday gathering.

"And now, a month later, he's gone," Crawford said. "It's kind of a hard hit."

Visitation was to be held Thursday for Roe at Pollack-Randall.

This article originally appeared on Port Huron Times Herald: Fort Gratiot closing offices early Friday for funeral of beloved colleague