Don entered his heavenly home on November 30, 2024.  He was born in Denmark, AR on June 12, 1946 to the late Walter and Marie Willis. Don was the baby brother to three older sisters, and he was just that, the baby boy.

Don grew up in Bald Knob, AR and later moved to New Orleans, LA, as a young man.  It was there he met Claudia, and they began their life together. They spent much of their married lives living in Bogalusa, where they raised their children.  Later, they moved to Dexter, MS, where they joined a loving family of believers at Crystal Springs Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon for many years.

He loved to talk about his years of hard work and dedication working for the railroad.  He worked for GM&O, Illinois Central, Illinois Central Gulf, and Canadian National Railroad.  He often bragged about only missing ONE DAY of work in 36 years.  He was passionate about yard work and spent his retired years taking care of the church's lawn and many other lawns within the community.

Don never missed a chance to tell a joke or get a plate of southern fried catfish. His children and grandchildren can tell you just how funny he was, and no one could tell a story quite like him. They can also testify to just how much he enjoyed a good plate of fried fish on a Saturday night.

He was an outdoorsman and spent many hours in his shop, in the field tending various crops, and hunting whitetail deer.  There was not much Don could not fix, and he prided himself in his ability to work on "junk."  His shed is proof of just how much he enjoyed working on things.

Don was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Marie Willis, three sisters and their husbands, Reva and Don Moore, Evalene and Tommy Whiddon, and Nadean and Ernest Jones.

Don is survived by his wife of 58 years, Claudia, two sons, Donald Willis, Jr. (Becky) and Keith Willis (Donna), four grandsons, Jeremy Rogers, Hunter Willis, Tim Willis (Eva), and Austin Rogers, two granddaughters, Erica Wheat (Corey) and Summer Guttuso (Gabe), four great grandsons, Luke Wheat, Owen Wheat, Jake Wheat, and Zayne Guttuso, along with a host of nieces, nephews, and loving friends.

Pallbearers will be Tim Willis, Corey Wheat, Scotty Luper, Bruce Nippers, Mike Laird, and Richie Williams.  Honorary pallbearers are Luke Wheat, Charles Addison, Rick Culpepper, Steve Culpepper, and the Deacons of Crystal Springs Baptist Church.

The family would also like to extend deepest gratitude to Denise Crum, adopted member of the Willis family, and all of the health care personnel who took care of Don in his last few years of life.  The family also asks that in lieu of flowers, please donate to the building fund of Crystal Springs Baptist Church.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, December 4, 2024 at Crystal Springs Baptist Church in 941 Hwy 48, Tylertown, MS from 9:00 AM until service time 12:00 PM with Bro. Danny Stevens officiating. Burial will follow in Crystal Springs Cemetery in Tylertown, MS. Hartman Hughes Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.