Randall C. Willis

Randall C. “Randy” Willis, 70, of Maryville, MO, passed from this life on August 23, 2017, at his home in Maryville.

Randy was born on October 11, 1946, the youngest of 3 sons of Carol Marie Lesan and Raymond Lee Willis, in Eagleville, MO. His daddy was killed in a hunting accident when Randy was 13 months old.  In Eagleville, he was surrounded by family.  His mother and two brothers, Nate and Dave
moved to Maryville when he was ten. When he was 13, his mother married Paul Mildward and to this union, Randy had two 2 brothers, Kenny and Russ.

Randy served 2 tours in Viet Nam in ’66 and ’68 when he acquired Agent Orange.  He received an honorable discharge from the military so that he could come home and take care of this son, Todd Alan Willis who was born to Randy and Stella Roderick Willis on October 23, 1966.  That marriage lasted from ’64 to ’68.  On October 20, 1972, Randy married Karen Deloris Nail and they had 2 children, Carolyn Lee and Jason Raymond.

Randy was a loving husband and father.  He loved Christmas with all the lights and setting off fireworks on the 4 ^th of July.  He loved to drive around the countryside in our beautiful part of the country.  He loved family get-togethers and he was a great cook.  He always fixed the meat
(the hard part) for those special meals. He was a good man.  Life is too short!  I so look forward to being with him in eternity after I see Jesus.

He loved the Lord and gave his heart to Jesus in May of 1972.  He was a charter member of the Temple Baptist Church and he and his 3 children were in the first service on May 30, 1979.  He loved his church family.

He was a high achiever in whatever he set out to do.  He was one of the first six Certified Grounds Managers in the world.  He became President of the Professional Grounds Management Society for which he wrote articles and was highly respected, but his family was number One for him.  He was a great protector of them.

He leaves behind to greatly mourn his passing, his wife, Karen, of 45 blessed years, Todd (Renee’) Willis, Maryville, Carolyn Willis Rodriguez (Oscar), Lenexa, KS, and Jay (Tabitha) Willis, Beaumont, TX.  He leaves grandchildren: Desiree’, Alex, Justin, Alexis, Victoria, Hope, Benjamin,
Rachel, Elizabeth, Elimelec and Catalina, as well as great grandchildren: Destiny, Jaxson, and Scarlet.  Also, his brothers, Dave (Norma) Willis, Hideaway, TX, Kenny (Kathy) Mildward, Emporia, KS, Russell Mildward, Gridley, KS, and Nathan (Priscilla) Willis, in North Carolina.  He has in laws Shirley (Roger) Kjellberg, Ankeny, IA, and Lloyd (Vicki) Nail, West Des Moines, IA, and many nieces and nephews.  He has a step sister, Lois Carr, Maryville, MO.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and his stepbrother, Don Mildward, in 2004.

Funeral services will be at 3:00 PM, on Saturday, August 26, 2017, at the Bram-Danfelt Funeral Home, Maryville, MO.  The minister will be Pastor Roger Cooper from the Temple Baptist Church.

Military Rites will be after the funeral service on Saturday at the funeral home.  By members of the Missouri Military Honors detail and James Edward Gray, American Legion Post 100, Maryville.

Cremation will follow the services and inurnment will be at a later date in Eagleville, MO

Memorials are suggested to the Temple Baptist Church, N. Main, Maryville, MO 64468.