Hester Beck Willis February 1, 1924 - May 6, 2009 Hester Beck Willis, of Waco passed away Wednesday, May 6, 2009 at her residence. Graveside services will be 12:00 noon, Saturday, May 9, at Oakwood Cemetery with the Rev. Jeff Hall, the minister to the Cox Chapel community of Highland Park Methodist Church, officiating. Mrs. Willis was born February 1, 1924, in Waco, the only child of Roy Elmer Beck and Elizabeth" Bessie" Lethella Howell Beck. She attended the Waco Public Schools, graduating from Waco High School in 1941, and received her bachelor's and master's degrees from Baylor University. She was a teacher in the La Vega, Dallas and Waco School Districts before her marriage to John Todd Willis, Jr., February 2, 1952, at Austin Avenue Methodist Church of Waco. A member of Austin Avenue Methodist Church, she served on the Board of Stewards and the Adminsitrative Board, and was a life member of the United Methodist Women. For many years she was a teacher in the Primary I Department and the Friendship Class. Active in the community, she was a life member of the Friends of the Waco Public Library and a member of the Sterling C. Robertson Chapter of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, the Henry Downs Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Chapter B.F. of the P.E.O. Sisterhood, and the Mary Milam Garden Club. She was preceded in death by her husband, John Todd Willis, Jr. Survivors include two sons, Dr. T. Bradford Willis of Waco; David Parker Willis, Sr., and his wife, Carol, of Houston; and two grandchildren, David Parker Willis, Jr., and Laura Anne Willis. The family wishes to express appreciation to her many friends for their visits, flowers, and cards over the past several years. The family wishes to express appreciation to her physicians, especially Dr. Samuel W. Ralston, Dr. Randolph B. Veazey, Dr. J. Kendall Ethridge, and Dr. H. John Quinius. Appreciation is expressed to the staff of the Emergency Center and the Rehabilitation Services of Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center. The family wishes to express appreciation to her caregivers, Margie Montgomery, Bertha Dotson, Melvin Dotson, Evelyn Howard, Tamela O'Neal, Glenda Thomas, Janet Reed, Shirley Acevedo, Juanita Scott, Shelia Davis, Connie Fuller and the staff of Visiting Angels. Appreciation is also expressed to Kim Smith, Danna Perlowski, Charla Hughes, and the staff of Hillcrest Hospice, and to Laura Hoffmeyer of the Bluebonnet Homecare. Memorials may be made to the National Parkinson Foundation, P.O. Box 9254, Uniondale, NY 11555-9254 or the charity of your choice. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our "Memorial Guestbook" at www.wilkirsonhatchbailey.com.
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