GRANBURY — Evelyn Willis-Key loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother passed away in Tyler, Texas on Tuesday November 20, 2012 at the age of 94.
Funeral: 11:00 a.m. Saturday at Granbury First Baptist Church. Burial: Holly Hills Memorial Park. Visitation: 5:30 to 8 p.m. Friday at Wiley Funeral Home.
Memorials: Hospice of East Texas, 4111 University Blvd., Tyler, Texas 75701 or Hood County Library, 222 North Travis Street, Granbury, Texas 76048.
Evelyn Page Willis-Key was born January 11, 1918 in St. Louis, Missouri to James H. Page and Emma Page. Evelyn Page married Woodrow Willis (Woody) on February 22, 1936. Over the years Woody’s vocation took them from St. Louis to Downey, California, then to Nashville, Tennessee, and eventually to Fort Worth, Texas in 1949. It was in Nashville, Tennessee that Evelyn met Jesus and was baptized in a river close to Nashville.
The family moved to Granbury in 1952 where they were active in First Baptist Church of Granbury and the school activities of Granbury High School. Evelyn Willis began and managed a restaurant on the Old Historic Square in Granbury and later began a hair dressing business across from the old Buddies on Highway 144. She was very active in the Eastern Star, was an accomplished pianist and seamstress, played bridge with friends and sang in First Baptist Church. She had a beautiful singing voice and loved to sing for the Lord.
In 1979 she married Curtis Key and they participated in a group of Good Sam’s while enjoying their travels and friendships. During their years together, they also loved to worship their Lord Jesus.
After her move to Whitehouse, Texas to be near her youngest daughter, she was very active serving on the Board of Directors for the Whitehouse Library thus fulfilling her love of reading. She continued her faithfulness at the First Baptist Church of Whitehouse.
Evelyn was preceded in death by her husband Curtis Key and three sisters.
SURVIVORS: Raymond Willis and wife Janet of Granbury, Texas; daughter Judy Gardner of Pleasanton, California, and daughter Shari Williams and husband Tom of Tyler, Texas; Grandsons, Doug and Greg Willis, Tom and Jeff Wortham and Jason. She also leaves behind several great-granddaughters and many friends who love her.
Wiley Funeral Home
Granbury, 817-573-3000
