Joe Willis

Joe Willis passed from this life into his heavenly home on Sunday, October 19, 2025, surrounded by his loving family. He was born May 20, 1935, in Axtell, Texas to Frank and Annie Willis. Joe was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Gene Gatlin and Jack Gatlin; and grandson, Jarred Scott Moore.

He is survived by his wife, Irene, with whom he enjoyed 68 years of marriage; daughter, Carol Rose and husband Buddy Rose; daughter, Jeanette Morrison and husband Keith Morrison; grandchildren, Holly Brown and husband James Brown, Kate Guajardo and husband Aaron Guajardo, Kasey Price and husband Matthew Price, and Jake Morrison; and 8 great-grandchildren, Macayla, Madelyn, Naison, Penelope, Silas, Eleanora, Charley and Joanna; and many extended family and friends.

Joe had a 30-year career in radio station management focusing on a Christian format. He was successful in making profits, which made that radio station sellable. Joe was an innovator in the 1970's, and was instrumental in promoting "live" broadcasts from the annual National Religious Broadcasters Convention held in Washington, DC back to the DFW Metroplex. He also promoted the "Point of View" Talk Show with Marlin Maddoux which still reaches out to a national audience. He later encouraged Kenneth Copeland to start a radio program in his early days of ministry. Joe was a lifelong board member of Hilton Sutton Ministries and a Texas Gospel Music Hall of Fame Board Member.

Joe received many awards and acknowledgments throughout his career which include: Southwest Chapter National Religious Broadcasters President, The Barnabas Award from SWNRB, Founders Award from Assemblies of God International Fellowship, and one very deserving as an inductee into the Texas Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2019.

Joe loved to travel including cruises, motorhome trips, hosting trips to Israel and most recently Branson, mission trips to Russia, Guatemala, and Haiti. In his passion for music, Joe organized several Gospel quartets, which included the Debonaires, Lone Star Quartet and The Melody Five.

There is a hymn called, "In My Heart There Rings a Melody" and that perfectly describes our Joe Willis because it is true. He always had a song in his heart. He will be greatly missed.