SHREVEPORT, LA -- Funeral services for Matthew Alan Willis, 24, will be held at 10:00 AM Saturday, January 19, 2008 in the Forest Park Funeral Home Chapel, 1201 Louisiana Ave., Shreveport, LA. Interment will follow at Forest Park Cemetery West, 4000 Meriwether Rd., Shreveport, LA. Officiating will be Father Guido Verbeck of St. Paul's Episcopal Church. The family will receive friends from 5:30 PM until 8:00 PM, Friday, January 18, 2008, at Forest Park Funeral Home. Mr. Willis was born on April 20, 1983, in Shreveport, LA, and passed away January 11, 2008 in Shreveport, LA. Following his graduation from Captain Shreve High School in 2001, Matthew was asked to serve on staff at the Philmont Scout Ranch near Cimmaron, NM, where he worked as a repelling instructor. After returning to Shreveport, Matthew attended Louisiana Tech in Ruston entering the engineering department. Matthew has been involved in Scouting since 1989. He earned the rank of Eagle Scout and was also a member of the Boy Scout Honor Society Order of the Arrow. Matthew served as an assistant Scoutmaster of Troop 14 at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 275 Southfield Rd., Shreveport, LA. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Allen and Eshcol Willis of Illinois and Melvin and Elizabeth Ellen Hensley of Mississippi. Matthew is survived by his parents, Greg and Mary Willis of Shreveport, LA; other relatives include Charlie and Susie Smith of Jackson, MS and numerous other family members. He leaves behind his dearest friends, Josh Wood of Shreveport, LA and Michelle Mayeaux of Haughton, LA and many friends in Scouting. Serving as pallbearers for Matthew will be Josh Wood, Steven Lioy, Phillip Robinson, Ronnie Hull Charles Madden, John Corken and Drew Harris.
--The Times (Shreveport, LA) Jan. 18, 2008