Rita K. Willis Obituary (1927 - 2016)

Rita K. Willis 88, of Decatur, IL passed away at 6:30 a.m., Saturday, August 20, 2016, in her residence. A service to celebrate Rita's life will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, August 25, 2016, at Dawson & Wikoff West Wood Street Funeral Home. Burial will be in Harristown Cemetery, Harristown, IL. The family will receive friends for a time of visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m. until service time. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association. Messages of condolence may be sent to the family at www.dawson-wikoff.com. Rita was born on September 2, 1927, in Emerson, MO the daughter of Julius and Clara (Wolf) Kraft. She married James Whaley in 1948. She later married Charles "Ernie" Willis on June 14, 1970. He preceded her in death in 2004. She retired in 1993 from the Decatur Public Library. Rita was a member of Grace United Methodist Church. Surviving is her daughter: Carol Dickson of Decatur; grandchildren: Jill Whaley-Simmons (Leslie Simmons) of Decatur, Shelby Wright of Decatur, Matthew Wright of Statesboro, GA, Cindy Whaley of Decatur, and Heath Whaley of Decatur; great-grandchildren: Kassitty, Junior, Stoney, Qwenton, Shannon, Cheyenne, Shavon, Gage, Kaleb, Emma, and Kaitlin; great-great grandchildren: Jerimiah, Kella, and Shannon. Rita was preceded in death by her husband: Ernie, son Jake Whaley; infant son, great-granddaughters: McKenzie and Sha'Kia; great-great grandson: Zhaki; three brothers, one sister, and her daughter-in-law: Debbie Whaley.