In Memory

Carroll Gene Willis (Lawn Longhorns) - Class Of 1947

Carroll Gene Willis (Lawn Longhorns)

Carroll Gene Willis

(April 4, 1929 ~ April 14, 2012)

Carrol Gene Willis
Abilene

Carrol Gene Willis, 83, passed away Saturday, April 14, 2012 at his home in Abilene. Funeral services are scheduled for 1:30 pm Tuesday, April 17, 2012 at Broadview Baptist Church. Burial will follow in Dewey Cemetery in Lawn directed by Fry ~ Bartlett Funeral Home. Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 pm Monday evening April 16th, 2012 at the funeral home.


Gene was born April 4, 1929 to Vaughn and Daisy Greer Willis in Lawn. Gene grew up in Lawn, and was a proud Lawn Longhorn, graduating in 1947.


Gene worked in and around automobiles all his life as an automotive service manager, automotive parts and paint representative, gas station owner, and full time farmer and rancher in southern Taylor County.
He married Zella Davis on June 23, 1950 in Abilene. He and Zella raised four children in their sixty-one years of marriage.


Gene loved sports and was a die-hard Texas Rangers fan. He also loved the outdoors from fishing to building birdhouses, but most of all loved watching his grandchildren play sports.


Gene is survived his wife Zella of Abilene, his sons Mike Willis and wife Chrissy of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Brian Willis and wife Kren of Abilene, Scott Willis and wife Stephanie of Lawn, his daughter, Lori West and husband Stan of Hamby. He is survived by seven grandchildren, John Willis, Eric and Evan Willis, Dusty and wife Ashley West, Lindsey West, and Daisy and Marly Willis.


Gene was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Dottie Burton.


In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Broadview Baptist Church or to Hendrick Hospice.
A special thank you is extended to their church family, especially their Sunday School class and his Hospice caregivers Joan and Serena who cared for him in the last weeks of his life.

logo