Annie “Nancy” Watson Willis, 73, of Elizabethton, passed away on Sunday, April 22, 2018, on her 43rd wedding anniversary, at Signature Health Care Center of Elizabethton. She was a daughter of the late William “Bill” and Annie Lunceford Watson and was born in Bluff City. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Kenny Watson and Luther “Doode” Watson, and a step-son, Kenny Willis.
Mrs. Willis was a former employee of Raytheon Corporation. She loved to garden and work in flowers and was of the Freewill Baptist faith.
Those left to cherish her memory include her husband of 43 years, James William Willis, of the home; a son, Robbie Willis, also of the home; two step-sons, Sonny Willis and his wife, Lori, Elizabethton, and Robert Lee Willis, Bluff City; two sisters, Ethel Graybeal, Elizabethton, and Charlene Hilliard and her husband, Danny, Bristol, Va.; four brothers, Robert “Buck” Watson and his wife, Louise, Bluff City, Carl Watson and his wife, Oki, of Texas, Jerry Dean Watson, Elizabethton, and Billy Watson and his wife, Nina, Bluff City; a grandson, James “Marty” Willis and his wife, Nikki, Elizabethton; and three great-grandchildren, Bailee Willis, Brayden Willis and Kayden Willis, all of Elizabethton. Several nieces and nephews also survive.
A service to honor the life of Mrs. Willis will be conducted at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 24, in the Bluff City Chapel of Tetrick Funeral Home with Preacher Bud Malone officiating. The family will receive friends in the funeral home chapel from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, prior to the service, or at the home of her step-son, Sonny Willis, 232 Mountain View Circle, Elizabethton, at other times. The graveside service and interment will be conducted at 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 25, in the Sunrise Cemetery. Active pallbearers will be Robbie Willis, Marty Willis, Sonny Willis, Austin Hilliard, Alex Yates and Jamie Moser. Honorary pallbearers will be Johnny Willis and Danny Hilliard. Those wishing to attend are invited to meet the family at the funeral home in Bluff City at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday to go in procession to the cemetery. Those who prefer memorials in lieu of flowers may make donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105. The family would like to extend a special thank you to the doctors, nurses, and staff of Signature Health Care Center and Amedisys Hospice for the love and care shown to Mrs. Willis and the family.
Mrs. Willis and her family are in the care of Tetrick Funeral Home, Bluff City Chapel. Office: (423) 538-7131. Service Information Line: (423) 543-4917.