Phyllis Willis

Phyllis Charlyne Willis passed peacefully into her Father's arms on August 17, 2022 at the age of 93, at her daughters home in Pinetop, AZ. She was born I Covington, OH on June 6, 1929 to Roy and Mary Hecker. Phyllis' family moved from Ohio to Arizona after her junior year in High School. This move was very difficult for Phyllis, as she would tell everyone, she was going to be salutatorian of her senior class in Covington. As it turns out, she was "only" in the top 10% of her class at Phoenix Union High School. Phyllis lived in Wickenburg 70 years, 64 years in her beloved home on NW Grand Ave (the Phoenix highway, as we know it). She was an active member of the 1st Southern Baptist Church. Appropriately, her domain was the church kitchen, with all contacts directed to Phyllis for any church related events with food associated. She was instrumental in organizing, maintaining, and distributing food boxes through the church-sponsored food bank. Phyllis' hobbies were (tent) camping, reading, playing games (pinochle, her favorite), and traveling throughout the US. Much to her children's dismay, she and her travel partner, her aunt Vera Ward, would often take off on a road trip, offering no indication of where they were off to. Her justification, 'We don't know where we are going!' After the death of her husband, Fred in 1972, Phyllis enrolled in Glendale Community College in an accounting curriculum but found an inside job was not going work for her. So, she applied, and was hired to work as a truck driver in Bagdad, AZ, driving a Wabco ore hauler in the open pit copper mine, retiring in 1989. This career choice suited Phyllis perfectly! Phyllis was proceeded in death by her husband Gordon (Fred) Willis, Sr., sons Steven Ray Norris, Gordon Federick Willis, Jr., aunt Vera Ward, and twin sisters Denelda Hungerford, & Delores Rubash. She is survived by son, David (Britt) Norris, daughters Lynn (Dick) Fisher & Frieda (Becky) Willis-Zaremba, 10 grandchildren, and 21 great-grandchildren. If you would like to honor Phyllis, the family requests that you donate to your local school programs, or favorite school teacher for school supplies. Friends may offer online condolences at www.wickenburgfuneralhome.com Arrangements under the direction of Wickenburg Funeral Home & Crematory. There will be a memorial at First Southern Baptist Church on Saturday, 9/10/22 at 11:00.



A Memorial Service will be held at a later date to be announced.