As a child, her family moved to California where they settled in the Kerman area. She attended local schools, graduating from Kerman High in 1948.
Soon after graduating she married Tyson Gazaway. They moved to Fresno, bought their first home, started a family and became Chevron dealers for the next 40 years. Ty passed away in 1983 so with the help of her son Bob, Willie continued working until her retirement. Willie loved to travel and spent the next 20+ years vacationing around the world. She treated her children and grandchildren to many vacations and Christmas cruises. As much as she loved to travel, her favorite place was her beach house in Cayucos, CA where many family memories were made.
Willie was preceded in death by her parents, two sisters, her husband Ty, daughter Gwen and her companion of many years, Ralph Darnell.
She was a wonderful Mom to her children Bobby (Cherie) Gazaway and Janice (Steve) Anderson. She was a loving Noni to her grandchildren Tammy Sassano, Alisa (Daniel) Taylor, Lindsay (Matt) Fox, Kaitlin (David) Welton, Donald (Amanda) Jones and Daniel (Leslie) Jones.
Noni will be forever missed by her great grandchildren, Brennan Gust, Morgan and Sydni Sassano, Hayden, Landon and Brooklinn Taylor, Kacen, Kenley and Kamden Welton and Savannah Jones.
Mama/Noni, We will miss you every day. You are forever in our hearts. Thank you for loving your family so well.