PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Madison E. Willis, 61, of Perryville died Friday, Jan. 1, 2010, in his home after a long battle with cancer.
Madison was born Sept. 8, 1948, in Dyess, Ark., to the late Gene and Margaret Willis. He graduated as salutatorian of his senior class of Marked Tree High School. After shortly attending Arkansas State University, he accepted a management position with the Sterling Store Co. in Batesville, Ark.
After marrying Frances L. Ford of Marked Tree, Ark., he and his family traveled throughout Arkansas and Missouri while he managed several Sterling Stores before finally settling in Perryville in 1976. He was manager of the Sterling Store from 1976 until it closed in 1982. He then took a management position with Walmart of Chester, Ill. He briefly transferred to Texas as manager for Walmart before he became the manager of Pic-Pac Grocery of Perryville. He then managed IGA Grocery in Perryville from 1990 until he purchased the Plaza Lounge of Perryville in 2000.
He is survived by his wife, Fran; two daughters, Paula and husband Keith Overbey, Cindy Willis and fiancee Steve Mungle; three grandchildren, Jarred Hargrove, Joshua Hargrove and Sonnie Willis; three stepgrandchildren, Keith Ryan Overbey, Jacob Overbey and Nick Spitler of Perryville; four sisters, May Ann (Billy) McIntare of Tyronza, Ark., Janis Lawrence of Lepanto, Ark., Gail (Steve) Cockrell of Lepanto, Sharon (Wayne) Gotto of Perryville; three brothers, William (Teresa) Willis of Payneway, Ark., David (Pam) Willis of Truman, Ark., and Eddie Willis of Jackson.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Gene and Margaret Willis; his father and mother-in-law, Barlow E. and Qusene Ford; a brother, Gerald Glenn Willis; and a grandson, Jacob Eldridge Hargrove.
He was the current owner of the Plaza Lounge of Perryville. He was an active member of the VFW and the American Legion of Perryville. He was an active supporter of the American Cancer Society, helping to raise thousands of dollars for their cause.
Funeral services will be held by Miller Family Funeral Home in Perryville. Visitation will be from 5 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 5, at Miller Family Funeral Home.
A celebration of Madison's life will be 9 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 6, at Miller Family Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will be private. Memorials may be made to family choice.
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