Elizabeth Willis

Elizabeth “Betty” Cross Willis passed away peacefully on December 10, 2021, surrounded by family.  She was 88 and one-half years old – she said “don’t forget the one-half!”

Elizabeth was born in Cross, South Carolina to Robert Newton Cross and Florrie Bernice Sandefur Cross.  She was preceded in death by her husband, Rev. Dr. Mason M. Willis, her parents, 4 older brothers and 4 sisters-in-law.  She is survived by her son, J. Marcus Willis (Julia Anna Evans Willis) and Nani Willis Arning (Steven Arning), grandchildren Kristin Willis-Reyes, Jennifer Willis, John Arning and Anna Arning, and great-grandchild Emme Reyes.

Betty attended school in Cross, then Columbia College, where she graduated in 1954 with a degree in business and music.  Five days later, June 5, 1954, she was married to Rev. Mason M. Willis, and began a partnership which lasted until Mason’s death in 2019.  Along the way, she pursued many and varied interests.  She was a piano and voice teacher, choir director, librarian, newspaper correspondent, school teacher, executive secretary and a great Mom, Grandma, Sister and friend.  Music was Elizabeth’s passion, and her home was never without music playing in the background.  She directed and sang in choirs throughout her life, including as soloist with the Pueblo Symphony Chorale, and as a soloist for many weddings and funerals.  Her love of music was passed on to her children and their children and grandchildren.  Elizabeth was intensely proud of her family.  She and Mason attended their grandchildren’s music and dance events whenever they could.   In her later years, she enjoyed receiving calls from her great-granddaughter, Emme, and they were known to talk for 30 or 40 minutes about everything and nothing.

Mason and Elizabeth began their career in United Methodist ministry in Hawaii, where their children, Marc and Nani were born.  Betty said that being married to a minister, and with a music and business background, there were many opportunities for interesting employment.  Mason and Betty moved many times during their lives, and Elizabeth always went into every new community with energy and enthusiasm.  Upon arriving in Hawaii in 1955, Betty began hula lessons, learned to play the ukulele, and took up Japanese flower arranging.  After leaving Hawaii in 1966, Mason and Betty continued their ministry in Salt Lake City, and churches along the Front Range of Colorado.  She threw herself wholeheartedly into the Mason’s work, becoming an integral part of each church that he served.  She was active in United Methodist Women for many years, taught Sunday School, and led children and youth choirs for 45 years. After Mason’s retirement, they became members of St. Andrews United Methodist Church in Centennial, CO.  When they could no longer attend in person, they participated remotely.  Being a part of so many churches allowed Betty to live out one of her greatest gifts: a capacity for loving and caring for people in every situation.  She could make a life-long friend in an afternoon.

Travel became a very important part of Betty’s life, and Mason and Betty were blessed with the opportunity to travel to most of the countries of the world, including study trips to Switzerland and Russia.  Betty participated in one mission trip to Costa Rica, and attended the World Methodist Conference in Singapore with Mason.  Summertime cross-country road trips to visit relatives in South Carolina were a regular part of growing up in the Willis household.  During their time in Utah, Mason and Betty bought a tent trailer, and proceeded to drag the entire household on camping trips throughout the West.  Yellowstone, Four Corners, Grand Canyon, and the Oregon Coast were among the many destinations.

At the end of her life, Elizabeth lived at Legend of Colorado Springs, near Nani’s home, where she made many friends.  Elizabeth was a force of nature, holding the family household together through thick and thin, and nurturing her children and grandchildren.  She leaves a hole in our hearts.