James, "Jim"  Medford Willis, 94, of Hallsville, went home to be with the Lord, on Sunday, August 10, 2025, at the Missouri Veterans Home in Mexico.

A Life Celebration Service will be held 2:00 PM Saturday, August 16, 2025, at Fenton-Kendrick Funeral Home in Centralia. Burial with full military honors will follow in the Red Top Church Cemetery in Hallsville.

Visitation will be held from 1:00 PM until the time of the service at the funeral home on Saturday.

Jim was born in Columbia, Missouri on August 14, 1930, to Denver C. and Bertha M. (Case) Willis. He worked as a short order cook for NuJoy Sandwich Shop from 1946 to 1950. He then enlisted in the Navy in 1950 and was a Gunner's Mate Third Class, serving during the Korean War and was honorably discharged in 1954.

After his discharge from the Navy, Jim began working as an orthotics technician at Central Brace Company, where he manufactured and fitted various braces, body casts, and shoe corrections for 21 years. He then chose to further his career in the orthotics field with the University of Missouri in the Rusk Rehabilitation Center. He retired after ten years, then joined the Columbia Prosthetics and Orthotics team for 8 years before officially retiring.

On April 1, 1961, he married Wanda Gail Griggs in Ashland, Missouri, and was married 47 years. They began their life in Columbia, Missouri, and were blessed with one daughter, Cheri. They moved to Hallsville, Missouri where they spent the rest of their married life. Jim was an active member, custodian, and trustee for Hallsville Baptist Church for many years.

He loved tinkering in his shop, building things, and spending time with friends and family. One of his biggest joys was spoiling his granddaughters and seeing his great-grandchildren.

He is survived by his daughter, Cheri Fox (Doug) of Holts Summit; granddaughters, Kayla Miller (Travis) of Jefferson City, Kelsey Lander (Jon) of Fulton; great-grandchildren, Jayce Miller, Braiden Miller, Grayson Miller, and Dixie Lander as well as many nieces and nephews.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, and siblings, Virginia "Grace" Deason, Bertha "Irene" Knigge, Beulah "Mae" Sapp, Bessie Himelright, Dorothy Burge, Katherine Johnson, Alvin Willis, Roy Willis, Denver "Bud" Willis, and William "Bill" Willis.

Memorial donations are suggested to the Hallsville Baptist Church or the Missouri Veterans Home in Mexico and may be sent in care of Fenton-Kendrick Funeral Home, 104 S. Collier St. Centralia, MO 65240.