John Willis

(From Ozark Funeral Home)

John B. Willis, 91, died Wednesday, July 8, at 3:30 in the afternoon. He was born August 29, 1928, in Welling, OK, to Grover and Charity Willis.

He attended Welling School from first grade through part of his 8th grade year and finished 8th grade at Caney School. He attended high school at Tahlequah Public School through his junior year, then joined the Army Medical Corp when he turned 18 years old. He wanted to go to college but he knew his dad couldn’t help, but the G.I. Bill would help pay for his college. He spent three years in the service. He did his basic training at Camp Polk, Louisiana and the rest of his service was spent in the occupation forces in Japan. After his service time, he attended a refrigeration school for 1 year.

On November 23, 1949, John and Lola Brackett were united in marriage in Okmulgee, OK. They were blessed with four children; Nyta, Butch, Phyllis and Tracy. 

John loved to learn and set his goal on going to college. He attended Northeastern State College and received his BS degree in Education and Premed. He decided to go into teaching while working on his Masters Degree in Education. John started his teaching career at Norwood K-8 School, Norwood, OK, and stayed there for three years. He then spent a year as a classroom teacher in Portales, New Mexico. He received a Fellowship in Natural Science at Oklahoma State University so they moved back to Oklahoma. John then took a teaching position at Billings, OK, where he taught Science and Math and also coached football. He became high school principal his third year there. John continued his administrative career at Burbank and Perkins Schools as superintendent. In 1967, John and Lola moved their family to Missouri where he became the principal of McDonald County High School. In his interview he was instructed to “get the school to run as a school should.” John met with the student council president and explained to him that he was expected to encourage and support the philosophy of “Academics first, good times second.” John’s first meeting with the student body set the standard for his expectations for every student. “Be courteous, work hard, respect others, be helpful because someday you might need help, and be friendly.” He let them know that he would treat everyone of them the same, and that he was there to help them if they needed it. He wanted his faculty to show the students that they truly cared about them. He told them to look for the “loner” and visit with those just standing around, make sure no one went without lunch, and encourage every child. John cared about every student that attended MCHS. He never left a school activity until every child had been picked up by a parent. John felt blessed to be a part of the school district for 24 years. After retirement he served on the BOE.

John was an avid fisherman. He shared many fishing trips and fish cookouts with friends and family. He also loved working in his shop creating many wooden crafts and pieces of furniture. John loved to read and in the past few years he read 413 books. He kept a list of every book he read and would let you know which ones were the best. He also enjoyed feeding the birds and watching them through the window. He identified and kept a list of every bird that visited his feeders. John’s greatest joys called him, Papa Willis. He greatly loved his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

John was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Mike, Arthur (Sog), Grover A. (Mug) Willis; and three sisters, Francis Newton, Mable Murray, and Sadie Tremain; and one grandson, Douglas Aaron Jones.

He is survived by his wife, Lola, of the home; daughter Nyta Ward and husband David and their children Dana and John David; son Butch and wife Deneie and their children John and Cody; daughter Phyllis and husband Steve and their children Andrea and Kara; and daughter Tracy and husband Kirk and their children Matthew and Ben; and 12 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by brothers; Bill, Alonzo, and Paul; and sister, Leona Eidson.

Graveside funeral services with Full Military Honors will be held on Tuesday, July 14, 2020 at 11:30 a.m. at Pineville Cemetery with Pastor Doris Schlessman officiating. Those honoring his life by serving as pallbearers are JB Varndell, Tim Neale, Bob Campbell, Dave Attlesey, Billy Martin, Keith Lindquist and Jack Harp with Don Underwood, Ronnie Cooper, Jack Allman and Jerry Bonebrake serving as honorary.

Family, Friends, former coworkers and students will gather Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. at the High School parking lot to begin the procession to the cemetery, allowing Mr. Willis his final journey across the school campus. Friends may pay their respects on Sunday, from 12:00 noon until 5:00 p.m. and again on Monday from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. in the funeral home chapel. In Lieu of flowers memorials are being directed to either the McDonald County Schools Foundation or the Pineville Cemetery Care Fund c/o the funeral home. On-line condolences may be sent to the family through our website, www.ozarkfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are under the personal care and direction of the Ozark Funeral Home in Anderson, Missouri.