Barbara Willison

She was called Betty Lee as a child by her brothers who had a hard time saying Barbara and would become known as Betty for the rest of her life.

She went to be with our Lord in the morning on December 12, 2011, being welcomed into heaven by her son Jerry Leo.

Betty was born in Atlanta, Kansas to Willie Lee and Harry Earl Townsley on September 21, 1917, the tenth of eleven children. She graduated from Arkansas City High School in 1935 and moved to Ponca City securing employment with SH Kress. During her time with Kress she received the distinction of the number two bookkeeper in the nation missing the number one spot by a detail of two cents.

Betty and Leon met in the bowling alley downtown which was an omen of the future as they managed and then owned The Pioneer Bowling Alley on north 14th Street until its demise. Being the original multitasker many people were taught to bowl, given advice and watched over by Betty who mothered everyone. She organized leagues, ran the grill, and did all the bookkeeping and managerial tasks during the day while taking care of her youngest child, Kathryn. She returned to the house before the other children arrived home from school to fix the evening meal and welcome her husband home from work. In the summer she hosted students from the Opportunity Center instructing them in the techniques of bowling in a fun and family atmosphere.

Betty and Leon were long time members of the First Christian Church of Ponca City where she was known as the lady in the hat, sitting with her family in their pew on Sundays always sporting a beautiful, stylious hat. The Willisons also attended Eastern Heights Christian Church for a period of time.

She hosted the Canasta group as a young married woman, was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, the Womens International Bowling Congress, the Roosevelt PTA, the Friendly Class at the First Christian Church and other community organizations.

Betty was the beloved wife and is survived by her husband of seventy years, Leon of the home, preceded in death by her son Jerry Leo Willison her four bothers and four of her sisters. She is survived by her daughters Barbara Yvonne Mosley and her husband Bill of Skiatook, OK Susan Willison of Dallas, TX Mary Edwards and her husband Larry of Edmond, OK Kathryn Willison of Dallas, TX and Jerrys wife Jayne of Clarendon Hills, IL. She was a loving and devoted grandmother to Jennifer Marlatt and her husband Lance of Lahoma, OK William Mosley and his wife Frida of Tulsa, OK step grandchildren Jennifer Wileman and her husband Trip of Oklahoma City, OK Larry Edwards Jr. and his wife Ann of Los Angeles, CA Catherine Kennedy and her husband Ray of Richmond, KY Derek Huyser and his wife Sonya of Palatine, IL Meegan Weiland and her husband Stephen of Clarendon Hills, IL. She loved her great grandchildren immensely including Maggie and Emilee Marlatt Billy and Daniel Mosley step great grandchildren Hannah Bussey, Addison and Grayson Wileman, Bronson Edwards, William, Amelia, Olivia Weiland Nikolas, Aleksander, Luka, and Ella Huyser. Betty is also survived by sisters Margaret Butler of Winfield and Peggy Townsley of Ponca City.

Mother loved beautiful flowers but she always said she wanted them while she was alive and could enjoy them in lieu of flowers please make a donation to the following, Hospice of North Central Oklahoma, 1904 North Union, Suite 103, Ponca City, Oklahoma 74601, First Christian Church, 210 North 5th, Ponca City, Oklahoma 74601 or McCord Senior Citizens Center, 115 East Mary Rd., Ponca City, Oklahoma 74604.

A visitation for family and friends will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, December 14, 2011 at Grace Memorial Chapel. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, December 15, 2011 at the First Christian Church, 5th Cleveland with Rev. Larry Metzger presiding. Arrangements are under the direction of Grace Memorial Chapel.

Honorary casket bearers will be her grandchildren, Jennifer and Lance Marlatt, Maggie Marlatt, Emilee Marlatt, William and Frida Mosley, Billy and Daniel Mosley.