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BORN
1936
DIED
2026
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Jack Ray Willis Obituary
Mar 14, 1936 - Jan 13, 2026
Jack Ray Willis, 89, passed away Tuesday, January 13, 2026 at Schowalter Villa in Hesston. He was born on March 14, 1936 in Miami, OK to Irvin Harold "Arky" and Mary Austaphine Ina (Davis) Willis.
He graduated from Altamont High School in Altamont, KS with the class of 1954.
Jack was united in marriage to Thelma Jean Jones on August 28, 1954 in Oswego, KS. They shared 53 years of marriage together before her passing on March 6, 2008. He later married Darlene (Tatro) Buehler on September 19, 2009. Darlene passed away January 30, 2024.
He worked as a long-haul truck driver for many years. The last 20 years of his career was working for Farmland Industries in McPherson.
Jack was a member of the Moundridge United Methodist Church. He was a member of the McPherson Masonic Lodge #172, AF&AM and the Isis Shriners Hospital in Salina.
Jack enjoyed fishing and fixing up lawn mowers. He was a jack-of-all-trades and master of none. In 1995, he placed first in Five-Axle Tank Kansas Truck Driving Champion for the Kansas Motor Carriers Association (KMCA). Jack also used to travel to different high schools teaching driver's safety.
He is survived by his children, Debra Jean (Robert) Jobe of Hesston, Dwayne Ray (Karen) Willis of Moundridge, DeReva Kay (Kurt) Lawrence of Newton, and Ashley Laura Margaret (Christopher) Carpenter of Detroit, MI; eleven grandchildren; seventeen great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and sister, Darlene Willis Tyson of Las Cruces, NM.
Jack was preceded in death by his parents; wives, Thelma Willis and Darlene Willis; brother, Irvin Harold Willis; and sister, Marjorie Grondahl.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, January 17, 2026 at Moundridge United Methodist Church. Graveside services will be at 4 p.m., Saturday at Lake Creek Union Cemetery, Bartlett, KS. Family will greet friends from 5 to 7 p.m., Friday, January 16, at Moundridge Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Shriners Children's Hospital in care of Moundridge Funeral Home, PO Box 410, Moundridge, KS 67107.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
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