My life has been enriched, for having been apart of your family, on such a fragile day. Blessings...

Nancy was such a great influence is so many lives.  She will be greatly miss by all.  My deepest sympathies go out to Jack and all of their children. May God give all of you comfort. 
 I loved seeing all of her adventures in the photos. You could see her great personality shine through.

Nancy was a beautiful person!!!  She was a great person and a fantastic teacher!!!The high school kids loved her, and she them.   She put her heart and soul into her work.  The school yearbooks and newspapers some of the best in any high school.  She had that catchy beautiful smile that she flashed when she saw friends.  she leaves behind a legacy as a great person and teacher.  Jeff Ragan

A fantastic caring and loving woman whose goal was to reach out and help kids learn and become successful in their lives. She is kind to me. and a wonderful , supportive Mother to Angela and Joe.

Dearest Nancy,
I'm having a terrible time trying to write this note to you and your family.
My heart is breaking knowing that we have lost a wonderful human being from our lives. You and I had so many more events to celebrate and adventures to be shared. I will always treasure the memories. Our BIG birthday visit in Las Vegas seeing LOVE together , visiting Laughlin on another visit and Jack piling us into his truck to show us your area, the desert, and Needles...all places you loved.  And the laughs! We shared so many from our days on Clement street where you lived, and a couple streets over on Mallory, where I lived. The adventures we had there and the secrets we shared. Flint Central, drive in movies, walks, talks, gossip, sleepovers, boys, teasing Judy, Jeff and Lainie, etc,etc. We shared so much , the good and the not so good, the trials and tribulations, our first marriages and being in each other's weddings, our teaching careers , moves , our kids ,and our luck in finding our wonderful new husbands who liked each,Grandkids and cancer.  I wish I could have said goodbye and held your hand. You'll always be in my heart

Words are inadequate to express my sense of sorrow and loss at the passing of my very dear sister, Nancy. 
   
Nancy loved teaching and it is wonderful to know that her work as a teacher has inspired some of her students to pursue careers in teaching and journalism, which would make her very happy.  Many other students (and family members) were no doubt inspired by her unfaltering kindness to be a better person, and if we fell short of her example, she was always quick to forgive.  

Jack, thank you for being a great friend as well as a wonderful husband and father, and a patient, devoted and loving caregiver to Nancy.  No one could have taken better care of her throughout her very brave battle with cancer.  As I said before, you are my hero; I have come to think of you as more of a brother than a brother-in-law.  Kathe, Jonathan and I enjoyed every minute that we spent with you and Nancy, and we will always be here for you.

It is sad beyond words that Nancy's life has ended so soon, and I will always feel that a part of me has been lost forever.  But I encourage everyone to remember that her life, though far too short, was in most ways quite wonderful.  Nancy loved and adored her husband Jack, whose love and devotion in return had (and still has) no bounds.  Her loving children and grandchildren were her pride and joy. You should have seen her smile whenever she spoke of them.  In addition, Nancy had many good friends and a career that she loved, and she was able to pursue her love of travel.  So although some will live a longer life, few will live a better one, and those of us fortunate enough to have known Nancy can find at least some comfort in that truth.  

Everyone who knew Nancy liked her; everyone who knew her well loved her.  Those of us who loved Nancy will miss her very much.  I will think of her often, remembering the many great times we shared, her love of life, her love of her family, her beautiful smile, and her sense of humor.

I am devastated to hear of her passing. My sincere condolences to Mr. Willis, Jephrie, and her other children. Ms. T (as she was known when I had her) was perhaps the most influential teacher I ever had. I say this because she inspired me to pursue a career in journalism that I am still involved in to this day and don't intend to give up anytime soon. It is really a second career because I have also been a teacher for 20 years, mainly due to her contagious and infectious love of life, teaching, and laughing. I am currently a high school English teacher in Maryland and I only hope I will be half as inspiring and influential as Ms. Willis was to me. I remember talking my way into her class as a high school sophomore because the semester had already started. In order to get into her class I had to write a story in one hour. She told me, "I doubt you will get it to me in that time but one thing you need to learn about if you want to be in newspaper is how to make a deadline." I worked on my story at lunch that day and gave it to her. When she read it at first her mouth fell open and then she smiled and said, "Anyone who can write that well that quickly deserves a chance." I will never forget that and her and I owe her a tremendous debt of gratitude for encouraging me to pursue a career that has enabled me to cover high school sports in three states, professional baseball and professional golf. All because Ms.Willis saw potential and wouldn't let me sell myself short. God bless Ms. W. Your legacy lives on in my life and teaching every day.

I am so sad to hear of the passing of Mrs Willis,  I have so many wonderful memories of her from high school. If not for her I probably would have just given up and quit. She truly cared for her students. She gave  me rides homes from school when I needed it. I babysat for her once when her children were very young. And she could take a prank really well. Once we "borrowed" her for sale sign on her home and placed it in front of the school (trying to sell FOHI?) she laughed it off. We never admitted to it. This world has lost a beautiful soul...     Class of 1982

I remember the first time I met Nancy, outside of the Stop and Go near our home.  I didn't recognize then the significance she would have over and in my life.  I just saw the love and fulfilled look in my father's eyes and the sound of love in his voice when he introduced me to the woman that would show me what unconditional love meant.   Nancy always treated me and my children with such love.   My sons and daughter will always know the love of Grandma Nancy.   I loved her so much, and appreciated her acceptance and appreciation of me.   She was a model of what I must be as a person.  I love you, Nancy, my mother and friend. Please, rest knowing that you are with us in our hearts and actions forever.

So sorry to hear of her passing,she was my favorite teacher. I was on the newspaper staff class of 74. She was always in a great mood and ready to help.She leaves a wonderful legacy. God Bless, Kathy Bennett Black

I remember the wonderful times we had as neighbors and friendsthe get-togethers and family events.  Nancy, you were beautiful inside and out.  My condolences to you family.

I'm so deeply sorry for your loss. Mrs. Willis was the best teacher I knew. I had her husband Mr. Willis for Algebra 2. In 11th grade I kept finishing my Algebra 2 tests so fast that Mr. Willis told me I needed something to do and he said to go see his wife (smile). After my first meeting with her we just clicked. She hired me on as yearbook staff on the spot in the middle of the year. I then ended up as one of the editors of the yearbook my senior year. We would stay late after school, both of us working hard on the 1994 class yearbook. We both loved it. She pushed me to write and opened up many levels of my creativity and taught me so much. Even now as an adult I have found ways to somehow stir those creative juices, I even convinced my supervisor we needed a newsletter. Each month as I produced them, I couldn't help but think about Mrs. Willis and that infectious smile.

My last memory of her was on graduation day 1994. As I entered the campus to get in line to finish my high school year, I saw Mrs. Willis. We both smiled and she ran to me and hugged me so hard and told me she was proud of me. We have lost a treasure and she will never be forgotten. My prayers are with you. God Bless.

Thank you Mrs. Willis for some of my fondest high school memories. The Fohi Forum wouldn't have been the same without you. You helped me find two of my passions in life... Photography and Writing, and for that I will always be grateful. The world needs more teachers like you.

I am so sorry to hear of Mrs. Willis' passing. I was one of her students @ Fohi (87-89) and knew her as Ms. T. I loved her, she is the reason I became a teacher. When I explain to my students that they can call me Ms. T, I always think of her! I was her TA, on the Forum and yearbook, and she somehow remained calm during deadlines even when we were nuts as kids. I don't know how she did it.  After watching the slideshow, it looks like she really had a great life!  Please accept my condolences, I will always think of her fondly. And to Mr Willis...thanks for sharing her with us! You both were awesome teachers (you taught me algebra at Chaffey extension). I will never forget the look on both your faces when we students figured out you 2 were getting married! So sweet, I'm so sorry for your loss.

Dearest Nancy, you are a sunflower. Since 1971 we have shared our joys and
losses, our dear friends and our children, our students and our lives. Your gentle and beautiful spirit will grace the lives of all who know you forever. Never have you judged anyone, expressing instead empathy and compassion. Your students adored you because you honored their minds and talents and hearts. Angela, Joey and Jack know best your fine intelligence, kindness and fabulous laughter. You are the warm light that beckons loved ones safely home. 
    All my love to you, dearest friend, Nan

Thank you for many years of friendship, happy times and laughter with you, Angela, Joey and all the family:)  I will cherish the memories always!  With Much Love,  Sherry Warers

I'm so grateful to have had such a loving mother with such a beautiful heart. I love you

I always thought of you as family with your beautiful spirit and lovely presence. You will never be forgotten.

OBITUARY

Nancy Ann Willis

October 6, 1946 – January 22, 2016

Dimond & Sons Needles Mortuary

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