Jim Wills

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Elmer James "Jim" Wills Jr., 82, of Sikeston died Saturday, Aug. 2, 2003, at Missouri Baptist Hospital in St. Louis.

He was born Nov. 22, 1920, in Olney, Ill., son of Elmer J. and Lydia Ethel Thomas Wills Sr.

He and Roberta Henderson were married Oct. 7, 1988. She survives.

He was a member of the First Christian Church.

He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, having served during World War II. He also was a 32nd-degree Mason in the Consistory of Bloomington, Ill.

He was manager for Missouri Utilities in Charleston and Poplar Bluff before retiring in 1982.

Other survivors include a son, Elmer J. "Jimmy" Wills III of Sikeston; a stepson, Michael Henderson of Benton, Ark.; a stepdaughter, Ginger Donahoo of Dover, Tenn.; and nine stegrandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday at Ponder Funeral home in Sikeston.

Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at First Christian Church. Burial, with full military honors, will follow at the Garden of Memories Cemetery.