Verna R. Willis

WILLIS, VERNA R. Irving, Texas - 84, died peacefully at home in Irving, Texas on Monday, March 17, 2008. She was born in Lafayette Louisiana on March 29, 1923 to Joseph Jesse Pye and Enola Philomine LeBlanc. She graduated from Yoakum High School in 1941 and worked as a bookkeeper at the Yoakum Tannery. She later worked for the Southern Pacific Railroad in Yoakum, Cuero, Kennedy and Corpus Christi. Verna met Robert Willis while he was a flight instructor at Brayton Flying Service in Cuero, Texas. She married Robert on December 23, 1945 and celebrated 62 years of marriage this year. She and Robert made their home in Yoakum, Texas and later Irving, Texas where she was a loving wife and mother to her husband and three children. Preceded in death by her sister, Hazel McGill. Survivors include two sons, Hal Willis of Dallas and David Willis and his wife, Jan, of Kingwood; a daughter, Diane Willis of Irving, Texas; two granddaughters, Allison Polinard and her husband Jonathan, and Lindsey Willis; two great-grandchildren, Gavin and Alexis Polinard; a sister, Francis Harris and her husband Stan of Baytown; and brother, Jay Pye and his wife Karen of Victoria, Texas. Services were held at 6:00 pm at Donnelly's Colonial Funeral Home on Wednesday, March 19th. She will be buried beside her husband, whom she loved dearly, at 11:O0 am, Friday at Mount Hope Cemetery in Galesburg, Kansas. The family has suggested memorials to the Alzheimer's Association by persons who prefer to make remembrances in that manner. They may be left at the funeral home. Donnelly's Colonial Funeral Home 606 W. Airport Frwy. Irving TX (972) 579-1313 www.donnellyscolonial.com