John Willis

WILLIS, John Russell "Russ," age, 85, passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2016, while on an extended visit with his son, in Jacksonville, Fla. He was born to Samuel and Effie (Sells) Willis on May 30, 1930, in Riverdale, Ill. where he resided until he went into the Army and was stationed at Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas. It is in El Paso that he met his future bride, the love of his life, Marydell (Elliott). After serving his country during the Korean War, he returned to El Paso and was married a week later to Marydell. In 1967, Russ moved his wife and three children to Longview, Wash. where he was employed as a machinist for Weyerhaeuser Pulp division for 26 years. The family also grew by another daughter and three foster boys. Russ and his wife loved kids and took in many children that just needed a hand up. He also built the family home on 10 acres in Castle Rock, Wash. He had his own sawmill where he and his two sons cut much of the lumber that Russ and his family used to build their home. Shortly after he retired from Weyerhaeuser, Russ and Marydell bought acreage in Belvidere, Tenn. Russ had spent many summers in his youth visiting his Tennessee aunts, uncles and cousins from both his mother and father's family. He always enjoyed those summers and wanted to rekindle those relationships with his aunt and cousins from the Sells and Willis family. Russ loved meeting and making new friends. He was also very passionate about music, particularly playing his mandolin, an instrument he learned to play around age 24. He belonged to a couple music groups in the greater Winchester area including the Pickin' Parlor in Belvidere, volunteering to play at nursing homes, fairs and other local events. He was also a woodworker and had a shop full of tools and machines that he used to make, among many things, birdhouses, chess boards, jewelry boxes, wooden crosses, and wooden tulips, just to name a few. He delighted in making friends, family and church members many of these items as gifts. Russ loved the Lord and his Savior with a faith that could not be shaken. He is now home with his Savior and his lovely bride of 61 years, who preceded him in death in January 2015. Russ is survived by his daughters, Maryjean and Chris; sons, Jim and John (Tina); foster sons, Kevin, Jamey and Matthew; grandchildren, Alisha (Matt), Ashley (J.T.), Amber and Elizabeth (Ben); great-grandchildren, Maddison, Lucian, Xoey, and Logan and Emily, arriving in March; and several nieces; great-nieces and nephews and great nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Marydell; brother, David; his parents, Sam and Effie; sisters, Juanita, Martha and Catherine; and grandson, James. The Willis family extends a special thanks to the staff of the Anne and Donald McGraw Center for Caring in Jacksonville, Fla. The care and comfort they provided our father and our family was unparalleled. The family celebrated his remarkable life on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2016. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to: Email address: https://support.communityhospice.com/donate. It should be directed to Hospice Greatest Needs and can be put In Memory of John "Russ" Willis. Arrangements by Quinn-Shalz Family Funeral Home, 3600 Third Street South, Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250 (904) 249-1100.

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