Elizabeth L. “Betty Lou” Willis, 69, of Patterson, formerly of Arnold, died Oct. 20, 2014, in Cape Girardeau. Mrs. Willis was raised in Arnold and graduated from Fox High School. She was a certified nurse’s aide and certified geriatric nurse’s aide at many nursing homes in the area, including St. Anthony’s Medical Center in St. Louis County. Born July 23, 1945, in St. Louis, she was the daughter of the late Elizabeth (Ziegelmeyer) and Nathaniel Rice Sr.
She is survived by her husband of almost 50 years: Jerry Lee Willis; two daughters: Patty Ann (Ron) Wilkerson of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Peggy Sue Pounds of French Village; two sons: Larry Lee Willis of Patterson and Jerry Wayne (Sonja) Willis of Jackson; five sisters: Phyllis (Bert) Chapman of Bloomsdale, June Tune of Hermann, Ruth Ann (Ray) Bowder of Arnold; Laura Rice of Piedmont and Joyce (Joe) Dudkowski of Arnold; three brothers: Nathaniel Rice Jr. of Ste. Genevieve, Jim Rice of Perryville and Robert Rice Sr. of St. Charles; four brothers-in-law: James (Shirley) Willis of Poplar Bluff, Bill Willis of Piedmont, Robert Willis of Piedmont and Donny (Bev) Willis of Festus; two sisters-in-law: Judy Mulenex of Ballwin and Linda Davis of Poplar Bluff; eight grandchildren: Tara Ann Backlund, Steven (April) Backlund, Jeff Backlund, Dustin Wayne (Heather) Wilkerson, Josh Wilkerson, Mia Willis, Kristen Carmack and Matthew Carmack; and four great-grandchildren: Alexander King, Kylee Combs, Clayton Combs and Mason Carmack. She was preceded in death by three sisters-in-law: Shirley Willis, Mary Willis and Wanda Willis.
Funeral services were held Oct. 23 at Patterson Assembly of God Church, officiated by the Rev. BJ Con. Burial was in the Little Lake Cemetery in Patterson. Arrangements were under the direction of Morrison-Worley Funeral Chapel in Piedmont.