Beckham Co. - Obit for Willis E. Fillingim

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Willis E. Fillingim

WHEELER - Willis E. Fillingim, 86, died Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2005.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday in First Baptist Church with the Rev.
Aaron Laverty, pastor of Gageby Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in
Gageby Cemetery by Wright Funeral Home.

Mr. Fillingim was born Aug. 18, 1919, east of Wheeler in the Sweetwater Creek
area to Iving Gillis and Laura Coker Fillingim. He married Laverna Evans in
1943 in Wheeler. Willis and his family moved from Hemphill County to the
Gageby area in 1925, where Willis attended Pleasant Valley Grade School and
Canadian High School. He served nearly four years in the U.S. Army during
World War II.

Willis and his wife farmed, ranched and milked cows in the Gageby area before
retiring and moving to Wheeler in 2001. Willis also served on the Briscoe
school board. He was a member of the Gageby Community Church, enjoyed singing,
teaching Sunday school, helping others and was very strong in the Gideons
Society. Willis especially enjoyed spending time with his family and friends.
Willis and Verna shared their home with countless people who came in contact
with them. These two wonderful people have touched and changed many people's
lives.

He was preceded in death by six brothers, Leon, E.G., Talmadge, his twin,
William, Horace and Hugh Fillingim; and a sister, Leola Root.

Survivors include his wife; a son, Danny Fillingim of Elk City, Okla.; a
daughter, Mary Newman of Waxahachie; two sisters, Cornelia Lehman of McGaegor,
Minn., and Eula Newman of Richland Hills; three grandchildren, Dallas
Fillingim of Windthorst, Lindsey Criswell of Canyon and Clint Newman of
DeSoto; three great-grandchildren, Blain and Dagen Criswell of Canyon and
Keaira Fillingim of Waxahachie; and many other relatives and friends.

The family suggests memorials be to a favorite charity.