Preceding her in death was her husband, Frank Willis, whom she married on July 17, 1971. Frank died March 24, 2016. Surviving her is one son, Benjamin Levis Willis and his wife, Dr. Isa Alfonso, and their son, Julian, in New York City and one daughter, Mariam Graff in Los Angeles, California at UCLA.
She taught at South Fulton School from 1969-1972, Spoon River Valley Schools, and the International School in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia returning in 1989 to teach again at Spoon River Valley until 2005. She started Red Apple School with Nancy Dennis in the early seventies through the auspices of the Reformed Church. Her goal in teaching was to instill a love of knowledge.
Also surviving are: Her brother, Jerry (wife, Kay) in Canton, Illinois and three sisters, Marnie (husband, John) Newman in Chandler, AZ, Martha (husband, Jim) Orcutt in North Platte, NE and Marjie (husband, Gary) Shelby in Fairview, IL. Preceding her in death were her brother, Jim, who died on Nov. 4, 2007 and her eldest sister, Marilyn (Ken) Stratton, who died on January 11, 2011.
She loved her brothers’ and sisters’ children. Her nieces and nephews surviving her are: Randy, Dennis, and Dee Ann Stratton, Rod and Wendy Suydam, Jill Brady Smith, Valerie Ludden, and Shannon Nord, Jason and Justin Suydam, Troy and Ryan Shelby; Katie Orcutt Quick and Clifton Russell Orcutt. One nephew preceded her in death: Douglas Reed Suydam Wilcox.
Twenty-four great nieces and nephews survive her: Sean, Lindsey, Sabriah, Christin, Danielle, Jared, Wes, Jesse, Thyme, Zane, Tatum, Paige, Liam, Bryn, Ben, Ellie, Karissa, Anna, Ethan, Jacob, and Grace, Blake, Logan and Aiden. Two great-great grand nieces survive her: Aaliyah Wilcox and Gabriella Marie Suydam. Aiden Quick is also a great-great nephew.
She was a member of the Fairview Reformed Church in Fairview, IL since she was sixteen.
In lieu of a funeral, a Spoon River Valley Educational Fund Scholarship is set up under her husband’s name at the Fairview State Bank. The address is Carter Street, Fairview, IL 61432. Recipients will be from the Spoon River Dist. 4 School.
Mary Jo was a sustaining member of Illinois Alpha Delta Kappa, an honorary altruistic teachers’ sorority. She was the president of the local chapter Alpha Chi, and held the state office of Central Vice President.
She was president of Fairview Woman’s Club. She was a board member of the Fulton County Genealogical and Historical Society and the Fairview Township Library Board and Fulton Co. Retired Teachers. She enjoyed being a member of the Spoon River Drive (Fairview’s area rep), and giving cemetery tours.
She was an amateur genealogist and had most of Fairview’s families in her Family Tree Maker. All of her genealogy collection has been given to the Fairview Township Library. She compiled a Fairview History for her church’s 175th anniversary called “God is Looking Down on Fairview” in 2012.
A memorial service will be held Thursday, April 27, 4:00 PM at Fairview Reformed Church in Fairview, Illinois. Cremations rites have been accorded the Oaks-Hines Funeral Home in Canton is in charge of arrangements, memorials may be made to the Frank Willis Spoon River Valley Education Fund Scholarship in care of the Fairview State Bank. To leave online condolences please visit www.oakshinesfuneralhome.com
Oaks-Hines Funeral Home - Canton & Elmwood, IL Phone (309) 647-1601 Fax (309) 647-1674 oakshinesfh@yahoo.com www.oakshinesfuneralhome.com
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