Osage County, Oklahoma, Obituary:  James 'Jim' Willis

Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
The Hominy News - Progress
P.O. Box 38, Hominy, Okla 74035
Transcribed by Sharon Hamilton: sharkay@swbell.net
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The Hominy News - Progress
Vol. 33, No. 39
Wednesday, September 26, 2001
Page 5

James 'Jim' Willis

James 'Jim' Willis, 69, died Sun., Sept. 23, 2001.  Mr. Willis was born in 
Hominy on Feb., 13, 1932 to Fred and Ethel Allen Willis.

He graduated from Mound Valley High School in Hominy.  After graduation he 
entered the United States Air Force where he received a honorable discharge.  
In 1952 he returned home and went to work for Clay's hamburgers and bought 
it in 1954 and renamed it Jim's Hamburgers.

He continued on in the food industry by opening a hamburger stand at the 
Tulsa State Fair.  He was best known for being the 'cinnamon roll man' at 
both Minnesota State and the Tulsa State Fair.

His hobbies were people and gardening.

He was preceded in death by his three brothers, Harold, Donald, Russell 
Wayne Willis and sister Freda Copeland.

Survivors include:  daughter, Terry Synar and her husband David Oologah, 
sons, Fred E. Willis and wife Simone, Tulsa, Aubrey Willis and wife Annette, 
Tulsa; daughter, Sandra Wright and her husband Don, Tulsa.  He was blessed 
with eight grandchildren:  Lauren, Jimmy, Mary, Rachel, Evan, A. J., Alex, 
Meranda.  Other survivors include, one brother, Jessie K. Willis and wife 
Mary of Prattville, and one sister, Byrnina Hensley and husband Jim of 
Tulsa; his former wife, Mrs. James Harold (Mary Lou) Willis, the mother of 
his three children.  Mr. Willis is also survived by his loving, devoted 
companion Debra Soliz.

Services were held Wed., Sept. 26, 2001, at 2 p.m. at Moore's Eastlawn 
Chapel.  Interment was at Woodland Cemetery, Sand Springs.

Services were under the direction of Moore's Eastlawn Chapel.