Mr. Willis was originally from Woodfin, North Carolina, and spent most of his life in Newport News, Virginia, where he had worked at Newport News Shipbuilding.
He was of the Baptist faith.
Mr. Willis was an avid hunter and fisherman as long as his health permitted.
Survivors include two sons and a daughter-in-law: Jimmie Willis, Jr. and wife, Amy, of Bulls Gap, Jeffrey Willis of Elizabethton; grandchildren: Lindsay Willis, Jimmie “Trey” Willis, III and wife, Jamie, Alison Willis Hodges and husband, Jordan; and two great grandchildren: Jaelyn Brooks and Braelynn Willis.
He was the son of the late Dewey and Lillian Harwood Willis and was preceded in death by his wife, Stella Campbell Willis; and a son, Stephen Campbell Willis.
The family will receive friends 6-8 pm Monday at Kiser-Rose Hill Funeral Home.
A graveside service will be held at 11 am Tuesday at GreeneLawn Memorial Gardens. Rev. Terry Bunch will officiate. Family and friends are asked to meet at 10 am Tuesday at the funeral home to go in procession to the cemetery.
