CHARLES LEON WILLIS

1930 - 2015

Charles Leon Willis (1930-2015), better known as "Paw Paw Charlie," passed away on July 5th, 2015 surrounded by his family. Charles was born and raised in Brownsville, Texas.

After honorably serving in the US Air Force, he met and married his wife of 63 years, Mary Bastianello. In 1952, Mary gave birth to their first son, Charles Raymond (also known as "Chuck"). They moved to Kotzebue, Alaska to work for the US Weather Bureau until 1954. They returned to Brownsville and stayed for three years while Charles worked for Amoco and Mary gave birth to David Owen ("Dave") in 1954 and Richard Allan ("Rick") in 1956. A job opportunity with BASF Wyandotte Chemical Co. then led Charles and Mary to Gonzales, LA, where Mary gave birth to their fourth son, Durand Robert ("Coosh") in 1961. When he wasn't working, Charles spent time with his family coaching their little league baseball and St. Theresa football teams. After retiring from BASF in 1986, Charles co founded and ran Willis Country School, an early learning center and daycare, with Mary and daughters in law Frances and Leslie. For over two decades at Willis Country School, he was "Paw Paw Charlie" to thousands of Gonzales area kids in addition to his own grand and great grandkids. Besides being a sharp, hardworking man, Charles was, first and foremost, a loving man with a huge heart who enjoyed his family. Some of his favorite family activities included home cooked dinners, annual beach vacations, road trips with Mary, hard crossword puzzles, good barbeque, LSU Football, fishing and crabbing, helping in Coosh's restaurant Bayou Rouge in Tallahassee, and ice cream in any form.

Charles is survived by his wife Mary, his sister Jackie Ruffino, his three sons and their wives Charles and his wife Frances, Richard and his wife Leslie, Durand "Coosh" and his wife Margaret, his fourteen grandkids, his ten great grandkids, his two nieces, and one nephew.

He was preceded in death by his mother Florene "Dixie" Brown David and his son David Owen Willis.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, July 10th at Ourso Funeral Home in Gonzales, LA.

Visitation will be held from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

The family would like to give a special thanks to the doctors and staff of St. Elizabeth Hospital in Gonzales and Hospice of Acadiana.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation to a charity of your choice. To leave condolences to the family, please visit www. Oursofuneralhome.com.

Ourso Funeral Home of Gonzales is in charge of arrangements.FR