Maxine Gertrude Pierce Willis' Obituary
Maxine Gertrude Pierce Willis, age 91 of Gainesville, passed away Sunday, March 13, 2016. Maxine was born April 20, 1924 in Watonga, Oklahoma to William and Mary Warren Pierce. Born and raised in Watonga, she graduated from Watonga High School and the University of Oklahoma with a Masters in mathematics. She married J.C. Willis on May 5, 1946, right after he returned from WWII. They lived in Lafayette, LA and Houston, TX, then later retired in Gainesville, FL. Maxine loved to garden and play bridge.
She was preceded in death by her husband J.C. in 2003, sisters, Pearl Balenseifen and Nellie Hannafious, and brother, Jim Pierce. She is survived by her three children: Sandra Welgus and her spouse Howard Welgus of Ballwin, MO, Steven Willis and his spouse Vickey Willis of Gainesville, FL, and Teresa Ament of Owasso, OK; six grandchildren: Ruth McMillan of Ballwin, MO, David Welgus of Chicago, IL, Lee Ament of Broken Arrow, OK, Amber Ament of Owasso, OK, Scott Willis of Gainesville, FL, and Annie Willis of Gainesville, FL; and three great grandchildren: Max McMillan, Mitchell McMillan, and Grayson Ament.
The family will host a viewing at Wilkerson Funeral Home in Watonga, OK on Monday, March 21, 2016. Following a 10 am service at the First United Methodist Church, Maxine will be buried next to her husband J.C. in Watonga IOOF Cemetery on Tuesday, March 22, 2016.
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