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James Earl Willis
June 7, 1927 - July 15, 2009

Mr. James Earl Willis, 82 of Trumann died Wednesday, July 15, 2009 at NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital in Jonesboro, Ark. He was born in Harrisburg, Ark., and had lived in Trumann for the past 10 years coming from Texas. He was a retired dispatch manager for Time DC, a veteran of the U.S. Army and a member of the Central Missionary Baptist Church. Mr. Willis was preceded in death by his parents, Jim and Lois Penna Willis. Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Maxine Clem Willis of the home; three sons, Joel Willis of Dallas Texas, Garry Willis of Forth Worth, Texas and Randy Willis of Burlington, Wash.; one sister, Anniece Pochopin of Memphis, Tenn.; three brothers, Wayne Willis of Bartlett, Tenn., Harold Willis of Harrisburg and J.C. Willis of Memphis; 8 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. Funeral service will be Saturday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. in the chapel of Thompson Funeral Home in Trumann, with Rev. Harold Willis officiating. Burial will follow in the Harrisburg Memorial Park Cemetery in Harrisburg, Ark. Pallbearers will be Dalton Willis, Justin Willis, Blake Willis, Bruce Willis, Brady Willis and Joey Ray. Visitation will be Saturday from 12:00 noon until 1:30 p.m. at Thompson Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Assoc. or to the American Heart Assoc. An online guest book can be signed at www.thompsonfuneralhome.net.

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  1. Brad, Lena, Daria & Daniel Willis, Bear, Delaware says
    July 17, 2009

    Dear Family,A favorite songs says:There is a time when every broken heart will finally mend.There is a place where pain and struggles of this life will end.There is a grace where the weary and the wounded soul will rest.There is a prize that those who seek His Will will finally win.I believe that Uncle James Earl has entered into that place of peace - greeted by a loving mother & father, a host of family & friends, and a Loving Savior that welcomed him into eternal rest & happiness. He’s not sick, hurting, alone or unhappy – and he will not encounter the struggles that you and I encounter daily ever again…I’ll miss his laughter, corny jokes, his always-pleasant hellos, him feeding every critter that came in his backyard, and the smile that he forever seemed to bring out in me whenever we spoke. There’s a hole in our family – not unlike that left by grandpa and grandma’s passing – an emptiness that wont be filled until we, God willing, are together again in heaven.I’m very sorry that I won’t be there with you all to remember his life. I am hoping that knowing that our Uncle, Husband, Father, Grandfather, Brother & Friend is better off now than he ever was in this life brings comfort to you all. I know if you could hear his words, he’d be saying, “Do well…live right…choose a path that will lead you here…and someday join me. I’ll be waiting!”Prayers, Love and HugsBrad

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