Willa Jean Dufur

Willa Jean Dufur, 91, of Amarillo, passed away surrounded by loved ones on Wednesday, September 24, 2025 in Amarillo.

A visitation will be held on Sunday, September 28, 2025, from 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM at Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia St., Amarillo, Texas 79110. A funeral service to honor her life will take place on Monday, September 29, 2025, at 10:00 AM at Schooler Funeral Home, Brentwood Chapel. Rev. Lance Herrington of Paramount Baptist Church will officiate.

Willa was born on July 8, 1934, in Amarillo, Texas, to James Bailey Putman and Loucile M. Liedtke Putman. She graduated from Amarillo High School and continued her education at Draughon Business School, after which she began her career at an advertising agency.

On October 27, 1955, Willa married Haskell Dufur at First Baptist Church in Amarillo. They shared 66 years of marriage until his passing on December 13, 2022. Together, they raised three daughters, building a life centered on faith, family, and hard work.

While raising her family, Willa worked as a teacher’s aide at Robert E. Lee School for four years. She later worked at Southwestern Investments, which became Western National Life Insurance, for five years. She then joined AIG, where she dedicated 15 years before retiring to care for her beloved mother.

Willa will be remembered for her unwavering love for her family, her quiet strength, and her deep commitment to those around her.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to the staff at Heavenly Homes, who provided tender care to our sweet mom during the last 11 months of her life. We are also deeply grateful to the wonderful women from Abide Senior Care, who lovingly supported our mother while she remained in her home. Also, a special thank you to BSA Hospice of the Southwest for the compassionate care they gave to our mother and to our family during her final days.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Haskell

Willa is survived by her three daughters Janet Thorne and her husband, Ronnie of Amarillo, Terri Vaughn and her husband, Darrell of Burleson, and daughter Cheryl Ince of Amarillo; Aaron Thorne and his wife, Kerre, Lindsey McDivitt and her husband, James, Misty Ahmad and her husband, Shahrukh, and Emily Kidd and her husband, Chris; and thirteen great-grandchildren, Jackson Thorne, Axton Kidd, Avery McDivitt, Calvin Thorne, Alba Kidd, Emmett Thorne, Sawyer McDivitt, Maizie Kidd, Ramina Ahmad, Mallory Thorne, S.J. Ahmad, Melvin Thorne and Kephuha Thorne.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Paramount Baptist Church, 3801 S. Western St., Amarillo, Texas 79109. In the memo line, please designate Senior Adult Ministry or Benevolence Ministry.