Ouachita County Louisiana Archives Obituaries.....WILLIS, R. L. November 4, 2004
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Gina Brown http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00025.html#0006026 January 17, 2009, 5:48 pm

News Star World -  November 06, 2004
R. L. WILLIS

Funeral services for R. L. Willis will be at 1 p.m., Friday, November 5, 2004 
in the Freedom Baptist Church with the Reverends Jeff James, Timothy Lee, and 
Jerry Adams officiating. Interment will follow in the Occupy #1 Cemetery in 
Pitkin under the direction of White Oaks Funeral Home, Oakdale.

R.L Willis, 71, of Ten Mile, La. Went to be with the Lord on Thursday, November 
4, 2004 at home surrounded by the people he loved most.

Mr. Willis was born in Ten Mile in 1933. He served Freedom Baptist Church as a 
deacon for 37 years. He was a bus driver for Plainview High School for 35 
years. He will be forever loved and remembered by more than 300 foster children 
who he welcomed into his home over the last 35 years. He was named foster 
parent of the year in 1999. Mr. Willis was also an avid stock car racer, owner, 
and fan for 31 years. He will be remembered for his love of Christ, love of 
life, and love of family and friends.

He fell in love with and married Margie Willis and they built a life together 
for 53 years.

In addition to his loving wife, he is survived by their four children: Donnie 
Willis and wife, Delores of Ten Mile, Kathleen Mason and husband, Keith of Ten 
Mile, Debbie Johnson and husband, Ronnie of Pitkin, and Ronnie Willis and wife, 
Melinda of Pitkin. He was also loved dearly by three grown foster children: 
Betty Bynog, Timothy Lee, and David Rasmussen.

He was loved and cherished by his 13 grandchildren: Becky Webb, Dina Mason, 
Lori LeBlanc, Beth Willis, Tiffani Cloud, Robbie Willis, Nikki Perkins, Jaime 
Gaudet, Kevin Willis, LeeAnn Heflin, Heath Mason, Josh Johnson, and Kelli 
Willis. He also had the love and affection of 14 great- grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Richard and Doley Willis, sister, 
Goldie Mae Willis, and brother, Herman Willis.

His warmth and good humor will always be remembered by his seven sisters and 
two brothers: Jewel Lee Mancil of Pitkin, Ruth Lee Droddy of Elizabeth, Burnell 
Stephens of Conway, Arkansas, Evelyn Long of Denham Springs, Hilton Willis of 
Ten Mile, James Willis of Baton Rouge, Leona Dial of Elizabeth, Wanda Cloud of 
Denham Springs, and Louise Thornhill of Denham Springs.

He was currently the foster father of six boys.

The family wishes to extend a special thanks to the staff of Mary Bird Perkins 
Cancer Center of Baton Rouge. In particular they would like to remember the 
efforts of Dr. David Hanson and Dr. Kenneth Lo of Mary Bird Perkins and Dr. 
Dinesh Shaw of Cenla Heart Specialists.

Pallbearers will be Robbie Willis, Kevin Willis, Heath Mason, Josh Johnson, 
Randy Webb, Charles Cotton, and Brad Heflin. Honorary Pallbearers will be 
Milton Johnson, Charlie West, Glen Dixon, Clarence Deters, Hollis Mancil, Venoy 
Thompson, Harold Strother, Greg Allen, David Rasmussen, Shelby Wilson, and 
Willie Bynog.

Friends may call today at Freedom Baptist Church until time of service. 

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