James Willis

James Robert "Jim" Willis of Decatur passed away on Sunday, December 14, 2014, in Decatur Memorial Hospital surrounded by his loving family. Funeral services will be 10:00 A.M. Friday, December 19, 2014, at Tabernacle Baptist Church. Visitation will be 4-7 P.M. Thursday, December 18 at Brintlinger and Earl Funeral Home. Graveside services will be 2:30 P.M. Friday in Griffith Cemetery in Brownstown, next to his first wife, Iris. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Good Samaritan Inn, 920 N. Union St., Decatur, IL 62522. Jim was born January 30, 1931, in Bond Co., around Mulberry Grove, IL, the son of Roy and Bessie (Bolyard) Willis. Jim graduated from Mulberry Grove High School in 1949, and served with the U.S. Army, driving tanks during the Korean War. He married Iris Smith in July of 1955. She preceded him in death in November 1989. Jim was blessed to find love again and married Joan Dee (Dunn) Turner on December 1, 1993. He then took on the role of step-father to Annie's 5 adult children and Papa Jim to her grandkids and great-grandkids. Jim retired from Caterpillar in 1986 after 36 years of service. His last 15 years at Caterpillar he worked in tool design. He enjoyed golfing until his late 70s and then was content to sit on the front porch and enjoying the comings and goings of his street. Up until his death he and Mom still enjoyed going to Tabernacle Baptist Church and Arthur, IL, on Wednesday night to listen to "jams", bluegrass and gospel music. Survived by his wife, Annie, step-children Lynette (Roger) Tate, Floyd Leon (Rita) Turner, Cheryl Peters, Kathy Allen, and Tony (Sherry) Turner, 12 step-grandchildren, and 14 step great-grandchildren, sisters Doris Lamkey of Riverton, and Betty Willis of Springfield, brothers John (Lou) Willis and Don Willis of Brownstown, brothers-in-law Joe (Ruby) Smith of Arizona, Bob (Margie) Smith of Georgia, Brad (Barb) Dunn of Decatur, Frank (Judy) Dunn of Michigan, and Jay (Cheryl) Dunn of Decatur, sisters-in-law Blanche (B.C.) Fowler of Georgia, Vonnie Turner of Decatur, Barbara Molen of Modesto, IL, and Helen Dunn of Mt. Zion, and many nieces and nephews. Jim was preceded in death by parents, first wife, Iris, brother Raymond, sister Francis, sister-in-law Norma Willis, and brother-in-law Charlie Lamkey. The family would like to express gratitude to the doctors and nursing staff at DMH for the kindness shown to Jim and his wife, Annie. Jim was well loved and will be greatly missed. "
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