Obit of Willis, Eva CliffoJean - Jackson County, Oklahoma Submitted by: Gene Phillips 16 Nov 2008 Return to Jackson County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/jackson/jackson.html ===================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ===================================================================== ::Fort Sumner Cemetery--Fort Sumner NM Willis, Eva CliffoJean Eva CliffoJean Willis, 84, of Portales, and formerly, of Fort Sumner, died Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2007, at Roosevelt General Hospital following a short illness. CliffoJean was born Feb. 5, 1922, in Altus, Okla., the daughter of Clifton Byrd Newton and the former Bessie Bell Ash. She was raised in Morton, Texas, where she attended school. She also attended Eastern New Mexico University. She was later employed in the Personnel office at ENMU. CliffoJean married F.B. Willis, on Dec. 1, 1939, in Portales, N.M., they recently celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary. When World War II broke out, she went to work at Pantex Ordinance Depot where she mixed and poured bombs from giant pots that were donated by the Hershey Company. After the war, she worked and put F.B. through school at ENMU. They made their home in Fort Sumner in 1950 where F.B. taught school and CliffoJean stayed home with two rambunctious boys. When the boys left home, CliffoJean served as the Elementary School Librarian for 12 years. CliffoJean and F.B. were active members of the First Baptist Church in Fort Sumner, where she taught Sunday School for many years and she served as president of the Woman's Missionary Union. They made their home in Portales, in January of 2005 and attended Emmanuel Baptist Church. CliffoJean was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Merlene Reed in 1978; and a brother, W.H. Newton in 1985. Survivors include her husband F.B. Willis, of the home in Portales; two sons, Jack Willis and wife, Pat, of Portales and Jerry Willis and wife, Debby of Midland, Texas; five grandchildren, Dustin Willis, of Albuquerque, Damien Willis and friend, Lisa Lisenbee, of Las Cruces, Kim Willis, of Midland, Texas, Tony Willis and wife, Shannon, of Midland, Texas and Michael Deen Hartmann and wife, Kas, of Albuquerque; three great-grandchildren, Jordyn Willis, Michael Willis and Alexys Willis, all of Midland, Texas; along with two sisters-in- law, Ann Willis, of Melrose and Era Willis, of Georgetown, Texas; and several nieces and nephews. Visitation will be Thursday from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the funeral home. The family will receive friends from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 P.M., Friday, Jan. 19, 2007, from the First Baptist Church in Fort Sumner, N.M. The Rev. Coy Brewer and the Rev. Walter Huber will officiate. Burial will follow in the Willis family plot at Fort Sumner Cemetery. Pallbearers will be grandsons and nephews, Kim Willis, Tony Willis, Damien Willis, Michael Dean Hartman, Richard Willis, Gary Reed, Hardy Reed and Don Sweet. Honorary pallbearers will be Deacons of the First Baptist Church and her Sunday School Class. Memorial contributions may be made to the First Baptist Church building fund or to Emmanuel Baptist Church building fund. All arrangements are under the direction of Chavez Funeral Home, 804 N. Fifth Street, Fort Sumner, N.M. To place an online tribute or sign the guest book please visit www.chavezfuneralhome.com Published in the Clovis News Journal and the Portales News-Tribune from 1/18/2007 - 1/19/2007. ========= Willis, Eva CliffoJean Eva CliffoJean Willis, 84, of Portales and formerly of Fort Sumner, died Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2007, at Roosevelt General Hospital following a short illness. She was born Feb. 5, 1922, in Altus, Okla. She was an elementary school librarian for 12 years. Survivors include her husband, F.B. Willis; and two sons, Jack Willis and Jerry Willis. Information: 355-2311. Published in the Portales News-Tribune on 2/3/2007. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to Jackson County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/jackson/jackson.html