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Mr. Willis was born October 16, 1938, in West, the son of William Eugene “Tom” and Mary Ruth (Marshall) Willis. He attended West schools and was a 1957 graduate of West High School.
On Sept. 14, 1968, he was united in marriage to Delfa Janice Thiele in Aquilla, Texas. Billy and his wife are owners and operators of the Willis Country Store in Ross and have been in business for over 26 years.
The little country store off of I-35 has been instrumental in hosting several fundraisers for people in need and parties for many of his customers and friends.
In his younger years, he was a professional bull rider and rodeo clown who traveled all over the United States to perform. He had many friends and fans to cheer him on over the years and was proudly inducted in the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame in February 2004.
Billy loved to pull pranks and enjoyed joking around with his family and friends. He dearly loved his grandchildren Lainey “Puddin” and Langston. He was a member of the Ross Volunteer Fire Department where he served as chief for many years and was instrumental in the department’s reorganization in the early 1980s. Billy also served on the Ross City Council for several years.
Survivors include his devoted and beloved wife of 39 years, Delfa Willis of Ross; one son, Thomas Willis and wife, Nancy of Elm Mott, Texas; two brothers, Dan Willis and wife, Jan and Jerry Willis, all of Gholson, Texas; one sister, Marilyn Storm and husband, Donald of Red Oak, Texas; a granddaughter, Lainey “Puddin” Willis; a grandson, Langston Willis and several nieces, nephews, other relatives and numerous friends.
In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations be made to the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame in memory of Billy Willis, P. O. Box 104, Walnut Springs, TX 76690.
Willis and his two brothers are friends of editor O. D. Anderson, and the group rodeoed in the Central Texas area at the same time.