Oleta Willis

July 22, 1925 - March 14, 2022

Evelyn Oleta Willis, age 96, of Tulsa, OK passed away Monday, March 14, 2022 after a full, fruitful, and blessed life. She was born July 22, 1925 in Ratcliff, AR to Cecil Floyd Stroud and Laura Emma (Brooks) Stroud. During the Great Depression, her family moved to the Tulsa area where she attended Tulsa Central High School. She married Andy D. Willis of Bixby, OK on August 14, 1943. He would be her lifelong husband for 49 years until his death in 1992. While Andy served on the Tulsa Fire Department for 33 years, Oleta had a long career working in the oil and gas industry primarily working in accounting until she retired in 1985 from Cities Service Oil & Gas / OXY USA. Oleta was a devoted Christian woman and loved her church family at Southern Hills Baptist Church. There she enjoyed fellowship with many friends in her Sunday school class and was active in ceramics and Bunco groups. She was a fan of many sports including OSU football and baseball, OKC Thunder basketball, ORU basketball and baseball, and Tulsa Oilers hockey. In retirement, her energies focused on her family where she enjoyed studying her family history and genealogy. But she particularly loved to spend time with her 3 grandsons who were always the pride of her life. Her greatest joy was watching her grandsons grow up, cheering them on while they played baseball and basketball from grade school through high school and college. No matter the distance or temperature outside, she was always their biggest fan and rarely missed a game. Oleta was preceded in death by her husband, Andy D. Willis, grandson, Terry Lundgren, granddaughter Adrienne Lundgren, brother, Hiram Leroy Stroud, and sisters, Merietta (Stroud) Grever and Cecile (Stroud) Shelton. She is survived by one daughter, Cheryl (Willis) Lundgren, of Tulsa, one son, Tim Willis and his wife Susan (Selberg) Willis of Tulsa, grandson Matthew Willis and his wife Caroline (Daniels) Willis of Albuquerque, NM, grandson David Willis and his wife Shelby (McCarver) Willis currently of Elgin, OK, great granddaughter Evie Willis, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Special thanks to Beehive Homes of Glenpool and Avow Hospice for their excellent care of Oleta during her last months. After over 96 years and a journey full of love and generosity, Oleta has completed her work in this earthly life. She now receives her spiritual reward as she walks among the heavenly hosts in the presence of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Viewing will be 10am-8pm and visitation 5-7pm, Thursday, March 17, 2022 at Moore's Southlawn Funeral Home. Graveside will be 2pm, Friday, March 18, 2022 at Memorial Park Cemetery, Tulsa. Moore's Southlawn 918-663-2233