NEIL TAYLOR WILLIS

NEIL TAYLOR WILLIS

Born: November 21, 1931

Died: January 22, 2009

Celebration of Life: February 21, 2009, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Neil is survived by his wife Marsha; his children, Emily Willis, of Lake Stevens, WA, and Orlo Willis (Trish); and his two grandchildren Jacoy and Garrett Willis of Kenmore, WA. He is also survived by his sisters Margie, Doral and Lora Lea and numerous nieces and nephews.

Neil grew up in a family of musicians and loved good music.  He served his country in the Korean War in the 1950’s.  He was a carpenter for over 45 years.  He loved hunting, fishing and any activity that would take him outdoors.  He loved poetry and this particular poem was special to him:

“To Those I Love” by Isla Paschal Richardson:

If I should ever leave you

    whom I love

To go along the Silent Way,

    grieve not,

Nor speak of me with tears,

    but laugh and talk

Of me as if I were

    beside you there.

(I’d come—I’d come,

    could I but find a way!

But would not tears and grief

    be barriers?)

And when you hear a song

    or see a bird

I loved, please do not let

    the thought of me

Be sad…For I am

    loving you just as

I always have…

    You were always so good to me!

There are so many things

    I wanted still

To do—so many things

    to say to you…

Remember that I

    did not fear…It was

Just leaving you

    that was so hard to face…

We cannot see Beyond…

    But this I know:

I love you so—‘twas heaven

    here with you!

I will always remember my dad as John Wayne. He had the look. He had the walk. He had the voice. My dad was the toughest man I’ve ever met. He endured pain and hardship his whole life and did his best not to let it show. I never saw my dad cry. I always knew I could count on him. There was never anything he wouldn’t give me or do for me. My dad was a strong disciplinarian and he kept me out of trouble in a time when it was easy to cross the line. He taught me the meaning of honor and duty and that a man’s word is his bond. He taught me how to survive in the wilderness and to love and appreciate the outdoors. My dad was a master carpenter and he taught me how to build things, but more importantly, he taught me to figure out and appreciate how things are built. My dad taught me how to fix most things mechanical or structural and he showed me how to improvise when things didn’t go just right. I will forever remember what my dad smelled like; sawdust, leather and gasoline. Thanks for everything, Dad. I love you. Orlo.

He loved nature, spending time watching birds, and the changing of the seasons. However, his greatest enjoyment was spending time with his family. Many thought of him as gruff, but those of us who knew him best knew him to be generous, and loving.  He taught me how to work hard and how to look at a thing, and be able to understand how it works.  He bestowed a love of horses to me at a young age. He could tell you anything you wanted to know about a horse, its lineage, its breed, color, etc.  He also imparted a love of the outdoors to me.  The experience of hunting with him every year turned into a love of hiking and hunting out that perfect “shot” (photo). We didn’t always do things the same way, but everything he taught me extended or expanded to a skill or love of my own. Rest in peace Daddy… love you, Emily

The family deeply appreciates the love and care given to Neil by his doctors, Dr. King and Dr. Kraemer; their staff and Evergreen Hospice.