Hazel Willis

A memorial service in celebration of the life of Hazel “Irene” Willis, 86, of Louisiana is to be held at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, November 5 at the Centenary Methodist Church in Louisiana. Visitation will precede the memorial service at the church beginning at 9:30 am. Burial will follow at a later date at Boone Creek Cemetery in Licking, MO. Mrs. Willis died October 29, 2011 at Maple Grove Lodge in Louisiana. She was born March 13, 1925, to Fred O. and Alta Mae Greene in Fremont, MO. Following graduation from high school in Fremont she attended business college in Springfield, MO. There she met and married her husband of 39 years in 1947, Homer “Ed” Willis. They started their family while Ed attended college at SMS, Vera Monique born June 27, 1948 and Ann Denise born April 23, 1949. She spent two years 1949-51 recovering from surgeries for tuberculosis at the sanatorium in Mount Vernon, MO. Son, Kevin Edward was born September 5, 1953, prior to moving to Nashville, TN where Ed completed his masters degree at Peabody Teachers College. Irene always professed it “their” degree since she typed Ed’s college papers. She remained a homemaker when the family moved to Louisiana in 1956, when Ed became the elementary principle. They were members of the Centenary Methodist Church, where she was active in the many church ham and bean dinners and pancake breakfasts. She was an avid seamstress and accomplished cook, well known for her desserts prepared for neighborhood and family get togethers. They moved to Rolla in 1976, where Ed worked as elementary school supervisor. There she designed doll dresses for a nationally known doll manufacturer. Together they started two businesses: selling southwest jewelry and rental properties to UMR students. Following Ed’s death in 1987, Irene remained active in the local chapter of AARP, the Women’s Republican Club, and the Rolla Methodist Church, and a volunteer in the women’s auxiliary at Rolla Regional . She was recognized for her many years of service as co-manager of the resale shop at the hospital. Mrs. Willis is survived by brothers, Fred “Bogus” Greene Jr., of Sebree, KY, Gilbert “Cricket” Greene of Omaha, NE, daughter, Monique Willis of Columbia, son and daughter in law; Kevin and Karen (Carr) Willis, of Pleasant Hill, IL., 12 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren, and 2 great grandchildren on the way. She was preceded in death by her parents and husband, Ed, daughter, Denise, granddaughter, Kelley Strobel, and sister Martha (Greene) Allmon. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Centenary Methodist Church in Louisiana. Her own words of an epitaph to be place on her gravestone demonstrated her wit and humor: “I told you I was sick”. Only God will measure the successes and failures of Irene’s life, may God Bless and Keep Her.

Hazel Willis

March 13, 1925 - October 29, 2011