Cleo Willis Scarborough passed away peacefully just a month away from her 99th birthday on October 6, 2018. She was born to Elias and Florence (Richardson) Willis in Irvine, Kentucky on November 6, 1919. Shortly thereafter, the family moved to Hamilton, Ohio, where she was raised in a large and loving Christian family. She married H. Louis Scarborough on September 3, 1938. In 1948 they moved to Florida, along with Mazie and John Coyle, her sister and brother-in-law. Together they owned and operated the Two Sisters Restaurant on Eighth Avenue in Palmetto for many years. In the early 1960’s, she was employed by Beall’s Department Store, where she became the buyer for their Dress Department, frequently traveling to Miami and New York to buy ready-to-wear for the rapidly growing chain of stores. She retired from Beall’s in 1978. She always enjoyed being stylish, her career, traveling, shopping and sharing time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren, who called her ‘Gigi’. She was predeceased by her wonderful, loving husband of 57 years, H. Louis (Louie) Scarborough and siblings Helen Willis Haggard, Mazie Willis Coyle, Rose Marie Willis, Russell Willis and Will Willis. She is survived by siblings Darryl Willis, Darlene Willis Lewis and Barbara Willis Bailey; daughter Sally Scarborough; grandchildren Susan Dean, Laura Offenhauer and Bryan ‘Bo’ Offenhauer (Amma) and her great granddaughters Sarah and Laine. The family would like to thank the staff of Sarasota Memorial Rehab and Nursing Center for their love and excellent care. A private family memorial service will be held at a later date.
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