Deward Willis

Deward Willis CENTRAL CITY — Deward Willis, 89, of 405 Cedar St., Central City, died at 7:50 p.m. Tuesday, March 24, 2009, at the Western Kentucky Veterans Home in Hanson. He was born Nov. 28, 1919, in Butler County. He was a charter member of Lighthouse Baptist Church in Central City, a World War II veteran and a Kentucky Colonel. He retired from Island Creek Coal Co. He was preceded in death by his wife, O’Dessa Hope Willis; his parents, James Willis and Lula Shepherd; a brother, Paul Willis; and three sisters, Addie Massie, Catherine Melfa and Pauline Cronk. Survivors include two sons, Larry Willis and wife Karen of Central City, Thomas Willis and wife Glynis of Taylorsville; one daughter, Shelby Everly of Central City; 10 grandchildren, Steven Everly of Earlington, Kimberly Morton of Pleasant View, Tenn., Larry Everly of Anniston, Ala., David Everly of Central City, Katherine Griffin of Central City, Amy Willis of Bowling Green, Matthew Willis of Long Beach, Calif., Joshua Willis of Bremen, Jon Willis of Taylorsville and Kelly Bolden of Killeen, Texas; 22 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; a brother, Emmett Willis of Central City; and a sister, Esther Wilkes of Guntersville, Ala. Services are at 1 p.m. Sunday at Tucker Funeral Home, Central City, with the Rev. Ernest Bean Jr. officiating, assisted by Thomas Willis. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery in Central City. Visitation is after 5 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Online condolence can be made at www.tuckerfuneralhome.com.