Marion Willis, Jr.

Marion Willis, Jr., 80, 270 Brandonwood Drive, Johnson City, died Wednesday, March 16, 2005, in the James H. Quillen Veterans Affairs Medical Center at Mountain Home. Mr. Willis was a native and lifelong resident of Washington County and was a son of the late Marion T. Willis Sr. and Victory White Willis. Mr. Willis was a supervisor millwright with Daniels Construction Co. He was a Army veteran of WWII, serving in the Signal Corps and was in the Normandy Invasion. Mr. Willis was a member of the VFW Post #2108 of Johnson City. He was of the Presbyterian faith. Mr. Willis is preceded in death by: his parents; his wife, Dorothy Higgins Willis, in December 2004; one brother, Edward Willis; and one sister, Marylou Leach. Survivors include: four sons and daughters-in-law, Marion A. Willis III, Jackie S. Willis, Danny J. and his wife, Twyla Willis, and James M. and his wife, Anna Willis, all of Johnson City; Two daughters and sons-in-law, Kathy N. and Steve Adams and Vickie L. and Larry Bacon, all of Jonesborough; Two brothers and sisters-in-law, William 'Bill' and Nan Willis, of Michigan, and George and JoAnn Willis, of Fort Worth, Texas; One sister and brother-in-law, Helen and Clyde Bacon, of Elizabethton, Fifteen grandchildren, sixteen great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews also survive. The funeral service for Marion Willis Jr. will be conducted at 8 PM Saturday, March 19, 2005, in the Morris-Baker South Chapel . Pastor Cecil R. Lowe will officiate. The graveside service will be conducted at 1 PM Sunday in the Maplelawn Cemetery in Jonesborough with everyone meeting at the cemetery. Military Honors will be accorded at the graveside by the VFW Post #3382 and National Guard of Kingsport. The family will receive friends in the funeral chapel from 6 to 8 PM Saturday prior to the service. Active pallbearers will be Brian Jones, Luke Willis, Daniel Willis, Mark McCourry, Rusty Lowe, Bo Higgins, Carroll Higgins and Chad Higgins. Honorary pallbearers will be Clyde Bacon, Robert Leonard, and Clarence Clay.