Jane W. Willis
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God called Jane Withington Willis to her eternal home on April 12, 2022. She passed away at home at the age of 95.
Betty Jane Withington was born July 10, 1926, the only child of Charles Thomas Withington and Gladys Maxine Osborne Withington in Bartlesville, Oklahoma where she lived until completion of high school and worked as a legal secretary in the Patent Department of Phillips Petroleum Company for three years.
She moved to Odessa, Texas to be with her beloved father in 1946 who had moved there in 1944. Jane's mother died when Jane was seven years old and her father devoted great love and care for her.
Jane worked as a secretary to Mr. J. J. Willis in Odessa and later married his eldest son, John Jerome Willis, Jr. on December 28, 1951. They were parents of three children: Mary Jane, Laura Ann and John Jerome III.
In her later years, Mrs. Willis was employed at Wells Machine Company, Vice Drilling Company and Murphy and Rochester where she retired in 1994.
Mrs. Willis was a long time faithful member of the First Presbyterian Church serving as a Sunday School teacher, in Women's Work, on the Board of Deacons and as an Elder and considered the entire membership a part of her family?all children of God.
Mrs. Willis was a former member of several professional organizations including the Odessa Mother's Club, Meals on Wheels, Odessans Care, Interfaith Sewing and the Hearing Loss Association of America.
She was a devoted mother and grandmother, considering her children her crowning achievement. She always considered herself a student of the Bible and after retirement enjoyed gardening.
She is preceded in death by her daughter, Mary Jane Briscoe.
Survivors include: Laura Ann Meyers and Don Anderson, John J Willis III and wife, Dolores. Grandchildren: Tucker Briscoe, Katie Briscoe, Mark Barnett, Joshua Willis, Donovan Estrada, Danni Estrada and Luke Anderson. Great grandchildren: Eirik, Samoth and Ember Barnett and Jolee Briscoe.
The family will receive friends for visitation Monday, April 18, 2022 from 10 AM-12 PM at Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home. A memorial service will begin at 2 PM at First Presbyterian Church. Graveside services will be Tuesday, April 19, 2022 at 10 AM at the Rose Hill section of Ector County Cemetery (east of Dixie).
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to a charity of your choice or to the First Presbyterian Church.