Tom was the 5'th child and 4'th son to the union of Francis Marion Willis and Margarett Melissa Ann Barnes. (His father, Francis or "F.M." as he was known, had two children, Nancy and Issac previous to his marriage to Margarett.)
Tom was born at home, on a farm in Dry Valley, Ellington, Missouri. When he was around 8 years old, his father struck him on the back of his right leg with a stick of wood and was never taken to the doctor to have the broken bone/s set, resulting in him walking with a limp the rest of his life. For those who remember him, his spirit was not broken and he lived his life as a pleasant, hard working and caring man. He was given the full name of Thomas B. Reed Willis and it was never known if there was a reason for just the initial "B".
His mother, Margarett outlived her husband by near 30 years and lived alone during that time on the 60 acres that she helped her father clear years earlier. She made 515 quilts and did so, as well as raising her family with only the sight of one eye. It's likely that Tom got his courage and strength from his mother.
Just three weeks before his 20'th birthday, he married his sweetheart, Myrtle Daisy Fox. She had only recently turned 16 on October 1, before their marriage on November 15, 1914. And 9 months later, "Tom & Myrt" welcomed the birth of their first child, a son, named Edwin Marion Willis. 4 years and 6 days later, their first and only daughter was born, in Ellington as well.
It is probably not specifically known the exact time of the family's relocation, but it was between 1920 and 1923. Tom and Myrt decided to pack up and head for Carroll County, Missouri, 300 miles to the north, in search of work. It too is unknown if they all came at one time, or one followed the other, but two of Myrtle's sisters and their husbands made their move to Carroll County as well. Those two sisters were Clara (Fox) Gilmer and her husband Luther, and Maude (Fox) Barnes and her husband Ephrim. All remained in Carroll County,... finding work, establishing their homes and raised their children there.
Tom first found work by being on the crew that broke the ground for a road linking Carrollton, MO. to Norborne, MO., which today is Missouri State Highway 10. Tom also was a 'farm boss'. He would be hired on by a farmer with larger operations and put Tom in charge of the other workers. Generally one of the conditions of pay was that he be provided with a house for living quarters for him and his family. I, as his granddaughter, can attest that my father, Edwin Marion Willis told of how he had changed schools 25 times during the length of his 1'rst grade, up until he graduated Wakenda High School. Some schools he attended more than once. This was brought about by Tom always trying to look for the best offer from other farmers...whether it be a nicer house, 2 beefs instead of 1, or an all around better deal for them to pack up and move, sometimes on short notice. In spite of all the moving, Tom & Myrt's children got a well rounded education and all lived a comfortable life. Tom's last years of employment, before retiring, were spent at the F.M. Stamper Company in Carrollton, Missouri. Tom spent day after day on the kill floor, wearing rubber boots and standing in chicken blood up to nearly his knees. F.M. Stamper produced frozen entree's. It was later bought by Banquet Foods which produced what is called the TV Dinners. Myrtle also worked there for a while, but not sure just how long. It was during that time that she had applied for a social security number.
Once Tom retired, he always kept busy. Since Myrtle never cared to get out and about and socialize, Tom would do the major part of grocery shopping by himself, and the same with Christmas shopping for their children, then grandchildren. Together they would wrap the packages. Both loved to embroidery and they made many homemade gifts with their talents. In the summer months, Tom would be found out in their yard, tending to his many flowers, which he so enjoyed. The first home they ever owned was in Wakenda, Missouri. Then in later years they purchased a small, but comfortable home at 414 North Folger Street in Carrollton where they would spend the rest of their days. On the few trips that they had made back to their birthplace of Reynolds's County, MO. for visits or family funerals, they collected large sparkly rocks and carried them home in their car for a project that Tom had in mind. He poured a retaining wall around the sidewalk on the west (front) side of their home and up the set of stairs to the front door. The rocks were then thoughtfully placed in a pattern, and now between 50 & 60 years ago, yet remain in 2015.
Other interests of Tom's was fishing and watching baseball on their black and white TV. He had several friends and neighbors that he would go fishing with, and most enjoyed going with his grown grandson, Robert "Bob" Willis.
After a losing battle of breast cancer, Myrtle passed away a week after their 49'th wedding anniversary. Tom had been by her side through it all. Not by purpose, but by chance, he and an old acquaintance began to 'date' several months after Myrtle's passing. Tom first visited with his grown children to ask their feelings about it. With everyone's approval of Tabitha (pronounced with a long i), it wasn't long before they asked permission, again from their children if it would be ok with them if they got married. Tom bought a brand new 1968 Ford pickup with a camper shell and he pulled out his carpenter tools and gave it a makeover for sleeping quarters. He and Bitha honeymooned in south Missouri. She loved to fish, camp and be outdoors, same as Tom and they had just a short happy time together until she passed away after having a fatal attack of emphysema. Once again he found himself with lonely days, yet kept up his fishing with his buddies and grandson, and tending to his flowers of beautiful iris and roses. Sadly, less than two months after Bitha's passing, he was found in his home and had suffered a fatal heart attack. The beloved man, known as husband, father, "Uncle Tom", grandpa, brother and friend had laid down his tools and had moved to a new home, for the last time. He was remembered for his belly roll laughter, his talents, his honesty, his compassion, love and gentle ways. And his sharing...I as his granddaughter was recipient of some of his final acts of sharing, as upon my last visit with him, he had shown me around his flower garden and I had remarked of the beauty of one of his deep red rose bushes. He had grinned, and with his time aged hands began mulling around the bush, seemingly inspecting each of the many blooms, then pulled out his Old Timer pocket knife and snipped off the fullest bloom on the bush.."The best for you". I was just 16. Later, I wrote a poem in his honor "One Red Rose". When the seasons are right for roses, I place a single red rose on his stone. He would know what it means.
*******************************************************
Thomas "Tom" B. Reed Willis married Myrtle Daisy Fox, on Sunday, 15 Nov 1914, at the residence of Rev. W. M. Vance, pastor of the Christian Church, Dry Valley, Ellington, Missouri, Reynolds County. Filed in Marriage Record 6, page 101 on 18 Nov 1914.
Tom was born at home, on a farm in Dry Valley, Ellington, Missouri. When he was around 8 years old, his father struck him on the back of his right leg with a stick of wood and was never taken to the doctor to have the broken bone/s set, resulting in him walking with a limp the rest of his life. For those who remember him, his spirit was not broken and he lived his life as a pleasant, hard working and caring man. He was given the full name of Thomas B. Reed Willis and it was never known if there was a reason for just the initial "B".
His mother, Margarett outlived her husband by near 30 years and lived alone during that time on the 60 acres that she helped her father clear years earlier. She made 515 quilts and did so, as well as raising her family with only the sight of one eye. It's likely that Tom got his courage and strength from his mother.
Just three weeks before his 20'th birthday, he married his sweetheart, Myrtle Daisy Fox. She had only recently turned 16 on October 1, before their marriage on November 15, 1914. And 9 months later, "Tom & Myrt" welcomed the birth of their first child, a son, named Edwin Marion Willis. 4 years and 6 days later, their first and only daughter was born, in Ellington as well.
It is probably not specifically known the exact time of the family's relocation, but it was between 1920 and 1923. Tom and Myrt decided to pack up and head for Carroll County, Missouri, 300 miles to the north, in search of work. It too is unknown if they all came at one time, or one followed the other, but two of Myrtle's sisters and their husbands made their move to Carroll County as well. Those two sisters were Clara (Fox) Gilmer and her husband Luther, and Maude (Fox) Barnes and her husband Ephrim. All remained in Carroll County,... finding work, establishing their homes and raised their children there.
Tom first found work by being on the crew that broke the ground for a road linking Carrollton, MO. to Norborne, MO., which today is Missouri State Highway 10. Tom also was a 'farm boss'. He would be hired on by a farmer with larger operations and put Tom in charge of the other workers. Generally one of the conditions of pay was that he be provided with a house for living quarters for him and his family. I, as his granddaughter, can attest that my father, Edwin Marion Willis told of how he had changed schools 25 times during the length of his 1'rst grade, up until he graduated Wakenda High School. Some schools he attended more than once. This was brought about by Tom always trying to look for the best offer from other farmers...whether it be a nicer house, 2 beefs instead of 1, or an all around better deal for them to pack up and move, sometimes on short notice. In spite of all the moving, Tom & Myrt's children got a well rounded education and all lived a comfortable life. Tom's last years of employment, before retiring, were spent at the F.M. Stamper Company in Carrollton, Missouri. Tom spent day after day on the kill floor, wearing rubber boots and standing in chicken blood up to nearly his knees. F.M. Stamper produced frozen entree's. It was later bought by Banquet Foods which produced what is called the TV Dinners. Myrtle also worked there for a while, but not sure just how long. It was during that time that she had applied for a social security number.
Once Tom retired, he always kept busy. Since Myrtle never cared to get out and about and socialize, Tom would do the major part of grocery shopping by himself, and the same with Christmas shopping for their children, then grandchildren. Together they would wrap the packages. Both loved to embroidery and they made many homemade gifts with their talents. In the summer months, Tom would be found out in their yard, tending to his many flowers, which he so enjoyed. The first home they ever owned was in Wakenda, Missouri. Then in later years they purchased a small, but comfortable home at 414 North Folger Street in Carrollton where they would spend the rest of their days. On the few trips that they had made back to their birthplace of Reynolds's County, MO. for visits or family funerals, they collected large sparkly rocks and carried them home in their car for a project that Tom had in mind. He poured a retaining wall around the sidewalk on the west (front) side of their home and up the set of stairs to the front door. The rocks were then thoughtfully placed in a pattern, and now between 50 & 60 years ago, yet remain in 2015.
Other interests of Tom's was fishing and watching baseball on their black and white TV. He had several friends and neighbors that he would go fishing with, and most enjoyed going with his grown grandson, Robert "Bob" Willis.
After a losing battle of breast cancer, Myrtle passed away a week after their 49'th wedding anniversary. Tom had been by her side through it all. Not by purpose, but by chance, he and an old acquaintance began to 'date' several months after Myrtle's passing. Tom first visited with his grown children to ask their feelings about it. With everyone's approval of Tabitha (pronounced with a long i), it wasn't long before they asked permission, again from their children if it would be ok with them if they got married. Tom bought a brand new 1968 Ford pickup with a camper shell and he pulled out his carpenter tools and gave it a makeover for sleeping quarters. He and Bitha honeymooned in south Missouri. She loved to fish, camp and be outdoors, same as Tom and they had just a short happy time together until she passed away after having a fatal attack of emphysema. Once again he found himself with lonely days, yet kept up his fishing with his buddies and grandson, and tending to his flowers of beautiful iris and roses. Sadly, less than two months after Bitha's passing, he was found in his home and had suffered a fatal heart attack. The beloved man, known as husband, father, "Uncle Tom", grandpa, brother and friend had laid down his tools and had moved to a new home, for the last time. He was remembered for his belly roll laughter, his talents, his honesty, his compassion, love and gentle ways. And his sharing...I as his granddaughter was recipient of some of his final acts of sharing, as upon my last visit with him, he had shown me around his flower garden and I had remarked of the beauty of one of his deep red rose bushes. He had grinned, and with his time aged hands began mulling around the bush, seemingly inspecting each of the many blooms, then pulled out his Old Timer pocket knife and snipped off the fullest bloom on the bush.."The best for you". I was just 16. Later, I wrote a poem in his honor "One Red Rose". When the seasons are right for roses, I place a single red rose on his stone. He would know what it means.
*******************************************************
Thomas "Tom" B. Reed Willis married Myrtle Daisy Fox, on Sunday, 15 Nov 1914, at the residence of Rev. W. M. Vance, pastor of the Christian Church, Dry Valley, Ellington, Missouri, Reynolds County. Filed in Marriage Record 6, page 101 on 18 Nov 1914.
Tom was the 5'th child and 4'th son to the union of Francis Marion Willis and Margarett Melissa Ann Barnes. (His father, Francis or "F.M." as he was known, had two children, Nancy and Issac previous to his marriage to Margarett.)
Tom was born at home, on a farm in Dry Valley, Ellington, Missouri. When he was around 8 years old, his father struck him on the back of his right leg with a stick of wood and was never taken to the doctor to have the broken bone/s set, resulting in him walking with a limp the rest of his life. For those who remember him, his spirit was not broken and he lived his life as a pleasant, hard working and caring man. He was given the full name of Thomas B. Reed Willis and it was never known if there was a reason for just the initial "B".
His mother, Margarett outlived her husband by near 30 years and lived alone during that time on the 60 acres that she helped her father clear years earlier. She made 515 quilts and did so, as well as raising her family with only the sight of one eye. It's likely that Tom got his courage and strength from his mother.
Just three weeks before his 20'th birthday, he married his sweetheart, Myrtle Daisy Fox. She had only recently turned 16 on October 1, before their marriage on November 15, 1914. And 9 months later, "Tom & Myrt" welcomed the birth of their first child, a son, named Edwin Marion Willis. 4 years and 6 days later, their first and only daughter was born, in Ellington as well.
It is probably not specifically known the exact time of the family's relocation, but it was between 1920 and 1923. Tom and Myrt decided to pack up and head for Carroll County, Missouri, 300 miles to the north, in search of work. It too is unknown if they all came at one time, or one followed the other, but two of Myrtle's sisters and their husbands made their move to Carroll County as well. Those two sisters were Clara (Fox) Gilmer and her husband Luther, and Maude (Fox) Barnes and her husband Ephrim. All remained in Carroll County,... finding work, establishing their homes and raised their children there.
Tom first found work by being on the crew that broke the ground for a road linking Carrollton, MO. to Norborne, MO., which today is Missouri State Highway 10. Tom also was a 'farm boss'. He would be hired on by a farmer with larger operations and put Tom in charge of the other workers. Generally one of the conditions of pay was that he be provided with a house for living quarters for him and his family. I, as his granddaughter, can attest that my father, Edwin Marion Willis told of how he had changed schools 25 times during the length of his 1'rst grade, up until he graduated Wakenda High School. Some schools he attended more than once. This was brought about by Tom always trying to look for the best offer from other farmers...whether it be a nicer house, 2 beefs instead of 1, or an all around better deal for them to pack up and move, sometimes on short notice. In spite of all the moving, Tom & Myrt's children got a well rounded education and all lived a comfortable life. Tom's last years of employment, before retiring, were spent at the F.M. Stamper Company in Carrollton, Missouri. Tom spent day after day on the kill floor, wearing rubber boots and standing in chicken blood up to nearly his knees. F.M. Stamper produced frozen entree's. It was later bought by Banquet Foods which produced what is called the TV Dinners. Myrtle also worked there for a while, but not sure just how long. It was during that time that she had applied for a social security number.
Once Tom retired, he always kept busy. Since Myrtle never cared to get out and about and socialize, Tom would do the major part of grocery shopping by himself, and the same with Christmas shopping for their children, then grandchildren. Together they would wrap the packages. Both loved to embroidery and they made many homemade gifts with their talents. In the summer months, Tom would be found out in their yard, tending to his many flowers, which he so enjoyed. The first home they ever owned was in Wakenda, Missouri. Then in later years they purchased a small, but comfortable home at 414 North Folger Street in Carrollton where they would spend the rest of their days. On the few trips that they had made back to their birthplace of Reynolds's County, MO. for visits or family funerals, they collected large sparkly rocks and carried them home in their car for a project that Tom had in mind. He poured a retaining wall around the sidewalk on the west (front) side of their home and up the set of stairs to the front door. The rocks were then thoughtfully placed in a pattern, and now between 50 & 60 years ago, yet remain in 2015.
Other interests of Tom's was fishing and watching baseball on their black and white TV. He had several friends and neighbors that he would go fishing with, and most enjoyed going with his grown grandson, Robert "Bob" Willis.
After a losing battle of breast cancer, Myrtle passed away a week after their 49'th wedding anniversary. Tom had been by her side through it all. Not by purpose, but by chance, he and an old acquaintance began to 'date' several months after Myrtle's passing. Tom first visited with his grown children to ask their feelings about it. With everyone's approval of Tabitha (pronounced with a long i), it wasn't long before they asked permission, again from their children if it would be ok with them if they got married. Tom bought a brand new 1968 Ford pickup with a camper shell and he pulled out his carpenter tools and gave it a makeover for sleeping quarters. He and Bitha honeymooned in south Missouri. She loved to fish, camp and be outdoors, same as Tom and they had just a short happy time together until she passed away after having a fatal attack of emphysema. Once again he found himself with lonely days, yet kept up his fishing with his buddies and grandson, and tending to his flowers of beautiful iris and roses. Sadly, less than two months after Bitha's passing, he was found in his home and had suffered a fatal heart attack. The beloved man, known as husband, father, "Uncle Tom", grandpa, brother and friend had laid down his tools and had moved to a new home, for the last time. He was remembered for his belly roll laughter, his talents, his honesty, his compassion, love and gentle ways. And his sharing...I as his granddaughter was recipient of some of his final acts of sharing, as upon my last visit with him, he had shown me around his flower garden and I had remarked of the beauty of one of his deep red rose bushes. He had grinned, and with his time aged hands began mulling around the bush, seemingly inspecting each of the many blooms, then pulled out his Old Timer pocket knife and snipped off the fullest bloom on the bush.."The best for you". I was just 16. Later, I wrote a poem in his honor "One Red Rose". When the seasons are right for roses, I place a single red rose on his stone. He would know what it means.
*******************************************************
Thomas "Tom" B. Reed Willis married Myrtle Daisy Fox, on Sunday, 15 Nov 1914, at the residence of Rev. W. M. Vance, pastor of the Christian Church, Dry Valley, Ellington, Missouri, Reynolds County. Filed in Marriage Record 6, page 101 on 18 Nov 1914.
Tom was born at home, on a farm in Dry Valley, Ellington, Missouri. When he was around 8 years old, his father struck him on the back of his right leg with a stick of wood and was never taken to the doctor to have the broken bone/s set, resulting in him walking with a limp the rest of his life. For those who remember him, his spirit was not broken and he lived his life as a pleasant, hard working and caring man. He was given the full name of Thomas B. Reed Willis and it was never known if there was a reason for just the initial "B".
His mother, Margarett outlived her husband by near 30 years and lived alone during that time on the 60 acres that she helped her father clear years earlier. She made 515 quilts and did so, as well as raising her family with only the sight of one eye. It's likely that Tom got his courage and strength from his mother.
Just three weeks before his 20'th birthday, he married his sweetheart, Myrtle Daisy Fox. She had only recently turned 16 on October 1, before their marriage on November 15, 1914. And 9 months later, "Tom & Myrt" welcomed the birth of their first child, a son, named Edwin Marion Willis. 4 years and 6 days later, their first and only daughter was born, in Ellington as well.
It is probably not specifically known the exact time of the family's relocation, but it was between 1920 and 1923. Tom and Myrt decided to pack up and head for Carroll County, Missouri, 300 miles to the north, in search of work. It too is unknown if they all came at one time, or one followed the other, but two of Myrtle's sisters and their husbands made their move to Carroll County as well. Those two sisters were Clara (Fox) Gilmer and her husband Luther, and Maude (Fox) Barnes and her husband Ephrim. All remained in Carroll County,... finding work, establishing their homes and raised their children there.
Tom first found work by being on the crew that broke the ground for a road linking Carrollton, MO. to Norborne, MO., which today is Missouri State Highway 10. Tom also was a 'farm boss'. He would be hired on by a farmer with larger operations and put Tom in charge of the other workers. Generally one of the conditions of pay was that he be provided with a house for living quarters for him and his family. I, as his granddaughter, can attest that my father, Edwin Marion Willis told of how he had changed schools 25 times during the length of his 1'rst grade, up until he graduated Wakenda High School. Some schools he attended more than once. This was brought about by Tom always trying to look for the best offer from other farmers...whether it be a nicer house, 2 beefs instead of 1, or an all around better deal for them to pack up and move, sometimes on short notice. In spite of all the moving, Tom & Myrt's children got a well rounded education and all lived a comfortable life. Tom's last years of employment, before retiring, were spent at the F.M. Stamper Company in Carrollton, Missouri. Tom spent day after day on the kill floor, wearing rubber boots and standing in chicken blood up to nearly his knees. F.M. Stamper produced frozen entree's. It was later bought by Banquet Foods which produced what is called the TV Dinners. Myrtle also worked there for a while, but not sure just how long. It was during that time that she had applied for a social security number.
Once Tom retired, he always kept busy. Since Myrtle never cared to get out and about and socialize, Tom would do the major part of grocery shopping by himself, and the same with Christmas shopping for their children, then grandchildren. Together they would wrap the packages. Both loved to embroidery and they made many homemade gifts with their talents. In the summer months, Tom would be found out in their yard, tending to his many flowers, which he so enjoyed. The first home they ever owned was in Wakenda, Missouri. Then in later years they purchased a small, but comfortable home at 414 North Folger Street in Carrollton where they would spend the rest of their days. On the few trips that they had made back to their birthplace of Reynolds's County, MO. for visits or family funerals, they collected large sparkly rocks and carried them home in their car for a project that Tom had in mind. He poured a retaining wall around the sidewalk on the west (front) side of their home and up the set of stairs to the front door. The rocks were then thoughtfully placed in a pattern, and now between 50 & 60 years ago, yet remain in 2015.
Other interests of Tom's was fishing and watching baseball on their black and white TV. He had several friends and neighbors that he would go fishing with, and most enjoyed going with his grown grandson, Robert "Bob" Willis.
After a losing battle of breast cancer, Myrtle passed away a week after their 49'th wedding anniversary. Tom had been by her side through it all. Not by purpose, but by chance, he and an old acquaintance began to 'date' several months after Myrtle's passing. Tom first visited with his grown children to ask their feelings about it. With everyone's approval of Tabitha (pronounced with a long i), it wasn't long before they asked permission, again from their children if it would be ok with them if they got married. Tom bought a brand new 1968 Ford pickup with a camper shell and he pulled out his carpenter tools and gave it a makeover for sleeping quarters. He and Bitha honeymooned in south Missouri. She loved to fish, camp and be outdoors, same as Tom and they had just a short happy time together until she passed away after having a fatal attack of emphysema. Once again he found himself with lonely days, yet kept up his fishing with his buddies and grandson, and tending to his flowers of beautiful iris and roses. Sadly, less than two months after Bitha's passing, he was found in his home and had suffered a fatal heart attack. The beloved man, known as husband, father, "Uncle Tom", grandpa, brother and friend had laid down his tools and had moved to a new home, for the last time. He was remembered for his belly roll laughter, his talents, his honesty, his compassion, love and gentle ways. And his sharing...I as his granddaughter was recipient of some of his final acts of sharing, as upon my last visit with him, he had shown me around his flower garden and I had remarked of the beauty of one of his deep red rose bushes. He had grinned, and with his time aged hands began mulling around the bush, seemingly inspecting each of the many blooms, then pulled out his Old Timer pocket knife and snipped off the fullest bloom on the bush.."The best for you". I was just 16. Later, I wrote a poem in his honor "One Red Rose". When the seasons are right for roses, I place a single red rose on his stone. He would know what it means.
*******************************************************
Thomas "Tom" B. Reed Willis married Myrtle Daisy Fox, on Sunday, 15 Nov 1914, at the residence of Rev. W. M. Vance, pastor of the Christian Church, Dry Valley, Ellington, Missouri, Reynolds County. Filed in Marriage Record 6, page 101 on 18 Nov 1914.
Gravesite Details
Married to Myrtle Daisy Fox until her death on 11/22/65. Later married Tabitha (Howard) Jones.
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