Juanita ‘Jenny’ B. Willis
1921-2004

A memorial service will be held at the Big Pine Tribal Gymnasium, 1015 S. 
Richard St., Big Pine on Saturday, Nov. 20 at 10 a.m. for Juanita “Jenny” B. 
Willis.

Born on June 24, 1921 in Oatman, Ariz., Jenny died on Nov. 13, 2004 in Bishop.

She moved from Henderson, Nev. to Bishop with her husband Carl and family of 12 
children in 1964.  They lived in Round Valley, Laws and Big Pine, then moved 
back to Bishop.

At age 13 Juanita attended Sherman Institute of Riverside.  She was a homemaker, 
raising 12 children.  She worked at Bishop Laundry, Simpson Retirement Home and 
Big Pine Sanitarium.  She opened Amigo’s restaurant in Canyonville, Ore. which 
she had for 12 years before returning to Bishop and working for the Sierra 
Country Club, where she retired in 1991.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Carson Crandall Willis; stepson, 
Carson Eugene Willis; daughter, Claudina Corder; sister, Francis Smith; and 
brother, Martin Chavez.

Juanita is survived by her brother, David Chavez of Sacramento; sister, Manuella 
“Dolly” Diaz of Maryland; children and their spouses, Terri and Rusty Hodges of 
Victorville, Martin and Diane Willis of Gardnerville, Nev., Juanita and Glenn 
Arndal of Bishop, Carl and Patty Willis of Big Pine, Jim and Vicki Willis of 
Salem, Ore., Lynda Tyne of Tupelo, Miss., Toni Willis of Bishop, Marian and Greg 
Jones of Bishop, Chris and Carla Willis of Rogers, Ark., Fred Willis of Bishop 
and Dorothy and Emilio Collado of Bishop; grandchildren; Jeff, Alex, Geanine and 
Mitchell Willis, Richard Watts, Alisha McMurtrie, James Stanley, Chad Hodges, 
Troy Willis, Austin Willis, Nita Eddy, Dave Arndal, Fawn Pitt, Sage Hunt, 
Morningstar Wagoner, J.R. Willis, Jesse Willis, Seneca Willis, May Tindall, Tejo 
Willis, Calen Willis, Eric Willis, Ronica Kester, Stacey Patton, Elton Saunders, 
Veronica, Andon and Joaquin Ficker, Sierra and Craft Jones, Molly Willis, Willis 
and Richard Dondero, Mark Willis and Reina Flores; great-grandchildren, Summer 
Willis, Nicole Willis, Cory Willis, Matt Jeff, and Katie Watts, Maresa and 
Michael Mayes, Montana Stanley, Kayla and Tanner Willis, Wayde Eddy, Aden 
Arndal, Amanda and Tarryn Pitt, Wyatt Wagoner, Syenna Tindall, Carson Willis, 
Cassandra, Colton and Amity Willis, Matt and Nicholas Kester, Noel and Justine 
Patton, Josef and Veronica Saunders and Feather McKellips; and great-great-
grandson, Drew Christopher Kester.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to Pioneer Home Health 
Care, at 162 E. Line St., Bishop, CA 93514; the Hospice of the Owens Valley, at 
155 Pioneer Ln., Bishop, CA 93514; the City of Hope national Medical Center at 
1500 East Duarte Rd., Duarte, CA 91010; or any other charity.

The Inyo Register, Bishop, Inyo County, California
Saturday, November 20, 2004 – Page A-2.
Transcribed by Laura M. Bybee for Inyo County GenWeb, 6 June 2005