Dr. James Shelton Willis

1919 – 2013

Dr. James Shelton Willis son of John Shelton Willis and Esther Ellen Coley Willis was born on June 17, 1919 in Milton, FL, in the family log cabin. At the age of three his family moved to Pensacola. Being a child of the Great Depression, Jim helped out whether it was a working vacation picking cotton at the Alabama ancestral farm or working at Smith’s bakery after school. Even so he graduated Pensacola High School with a 98 grade point average and lettered in track. After he was hired by H.S. Kress to manage the busy luncheonette at their Tampa locations, his associates nicknamed him “Tiger” for his tireless energy and workload. This earned him an offer to serve as the South Eastern Division Manager over the company’s luncheon counters. However, with the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the beginning of WWII, he answered the call and served his country instead by joining the Air Force. While still serving, he married his wife of 71 years, Muriel Cook, a graduate of the University of Tampa that he met while working in Tampa. At the end of the war, he took advantage of the G.I. Bill and attended Logan Chiropractic College. He graduated at the top of his class and returned to Pensacola to begin his practice of 41 years. Dr. Jim Willis recognized early on that the patient’s freedom to choose their doctor of choice could only be possible and protected by positive legislative action. Such legislative action required professional organization and Dr. Willis was the key force in Northwest Florida to both conceive of and establish the Florida Chiropractic Association and its local extension, the Northwest Florida Chiropractic Society. Dr. Willis was designated the Chiropractic physician of the year by the FCA and remained the key “go to” doctor in Northwest Florida until his retirement. Dr. Willis’ alma mater, the Logan College of Chiropractic in St. Louis, awarded him their Award of Excellence for his years of consistent service to the public and the Chiropractic Profession.

He was instrumental on the state level for recognition of Chiropractic treatment by the insurance companies as an approved medical alternative. Dr. Willis received numerous awards and was held in high esteem by not only his peers, but also his patients. He was active in the community and was recognized for raising over one million dollars for Baptist Hospital, served four terms as president of the Kiwanis Club, and reached out to the Boys’ Ranch to bring hope and a sense of value their lives.

He is survived by his wife, Muriel Willis; sisters, Inez Tony of Montgomery, AL and Faye Montell of Biloxi, MS. He leaves behind his five children, Carol Gaskin of Pensacola, FL, Dr. Wayne Willis of Pensacola, FL, Meredith Burgess of Spring, TX, Candace Rogers of Melbourne, FL and Connie Reddish of Sugarland, TX; twelve grandchildren and ten great grandchildren.

DR. JAMES SHELTON WILLIS

1919 – 2013

Dr. James Shelton Willis son of John Shelton Willis and Esther Ellen Coley Willis was born on June 17, 1919 in Milton, FL, in the family log cabin. At the age of three his family moved to Pensacola. Being a child of the Great Depression, Jim helped out whether it was a working vacation picking cotton at the Alabama ancestral farm or working at Smith’s bakery after school. Even so he graduated Pensacola High School with a 98 grade point average and lettered in track. After he was hired by H.S. Kress to manage the busy luncheonette at their Tampa locations, his associates nicknamed him “Tiger” for his tireless energy and workload. This earned him an offer to serve as the South Eastern Division Manager over the company’s luncheon counters. However, with the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the beginning of WWII, he answered the call and served his country instead by joining the Air Force. While still serving, he married his wife of 71 years, Muriel Cook, a graduate of the University of Tampa that he met while working in Tampa. At the end of the war, he took advantage of the G.I. Bill and attended Logan Chiropractic College. He graduated at the top of his class and returned to Pensacola to begin his practice of 41 years. Dr. Jim Willis recognized early on that the patient’s freedom to choose their doctor of choice could only be possible and protected by positive legislative action. Such legislative action required professional organization and Dr. Willis was the key force in Northwest Florida to both conceive of and establish the Florida Chiropractic Association and its local extension, the Northwest Florida Chiropractic Society. Dr. Willis was designated the Chiropractic physician of the year by the FCA and remained the key “go to” doctor in Northwest Florida until his retirement. Dr. Willis’ alma mater, the Logan College of Chiropractic in St. Louis, awarded him their Award of Excellence for his years of consistent service to the public and the Chiropractic Profession.

He was instrumental on the state level for recognition of Chiropractic treatment by the insurance companies as an approved medical alternative. Dr. Willis received numerous awards and was held in high esteem by not only his peers, but also his patients. He was active in the community and was recognized for raising over one million dollars for Baptist Hospital, served four terms as president of the Kiwanis Club, and reached out to the Boys’ Ranch to bring hope and a sense of value their lives.

He is survived by his wife, Muriel Willis; sisters, Inez Tony of Montgomery, AL and Faye Montell of Biloxi, MS. He leaves behind his five children, Carol Gaskin of Pensacola, FL, Dr. Wayne Willis of Pensacola, FL, Meredith Burgess of Spring, TX, Candace Rogers of Melbourne, FL and Connie Reddish of Sugarland, TX; twelve grandchildren and ten great grandchildren.

Visitation will be held at the Pleitz Chapel of First Baptist Church, Friday, February 01, 2013 at 1:00 p.m., followed by a 2:00 p.m. service. Interment will follow at Bayview Memorial Park.

Pallbearers will be Dr. Wayne Willis, Don Rogers, Jerry Burgess, Jerome Reddish, David Willis, Andrew Gaskin, Jay Reddish and Jamie Willis.

Memorial contributions may be made to Samaritan Hands Ministry, 511 N Tarragona St., Pensacola, FL 32501 and Emerald Coast Hospice, 5401 Corporate Woods, Ste 800, Pensacola, FL 32504.

BAYVIEW FISHER-POU CHAPEL, 3351 Scenic Highway is entrusted with arrangements.

Condolences may be offered at www.bayviewfisher-pouchapel.com.