The Joetta and Majorville communities had been deeply pained by the distressing illness that slowly sapped the vitality and finally closed the life of a greatly beloved friend and neighbor, Mrs. Lawrence Willis, who entered life eternal at her home near Joetta Thursday, January 27, 1938, aged 59.

Pearl, only child of the late Francis M. and Ellen (Millica___) Smith, was born May 12, 1879, at the parental home near Middle ____, Hancock County, Illinois.  She attended the neighborhood school and finished her education at the Chris____ University at Canton, Mo., now ________-Stockton College.  She taught music at her home until her marriage.

On June 7, 1905, she was married to John Lawrence Willis, Judge C. J. Scofield officiating.  The _____ home was made on the groom's farm near Joetta.  To this union were born the daughter Miss Martha, and ____ twin sons, Franklin and Francis aged 18, who with the husband and ___ aged mother, Mrs. Ellen Smith survive.

She was converted under the Rev. G. A. Hendrickson at the age of fifteen and joined the Oak Grove Christian church.  She always retained her membership at Oak Grove but because of convenience ___ated with the Majorville Methodist church to which she and her family gave every help in attendance, activity and financial support.

She was a member of the Majorville Club, and the Liberty Club of her home vicinity.  During the World War she was very active in the Red Cross with the Woodville School branch, Hancock County Chapter, American Red Cross.

Mrs Willis was a gifted musician and gave of this talent generously to all church and club activities. She was also very resourceful and greatly in demand to assist with and prepare public programs.  Her happy generous heart knew no criticism of others.  She was the confident of many a troubled soul, and all who sought her advice were sent away comforted.  The abundance of flowers and gifts sent to her bedside, and the profuse floral offerings for the funeral testified to the love and esteem in which she was held.

For several years she has been the secretary of the Smith family reunion group, and in her official capacity kept everything moving.  Her original poem on the Smith family read at one of the reunions is treasured and filed among the papers of the organization.

Her church and social life received verbal contributions from her ver______ social gifts, but to her family and home she gave that more inti_____ more sacred devotion of wife and mother and filial daughter, for her home was her mother's home in every sense of the word.  She di_______ the education of her children with the idea of utility as well as of culture.  She took great joy in promoting the musical gift of her daughter, Miss Martha who has made great advance in her musical studies in preparation for professional work.  The twin sons, fine sensible boys will complete high school and then take up the life of agriculture and promote the interests of the family estate of 1000 acres.  The fine country home will remain the home with Miss Martha and the mother, Mrs. Smith, in charge.

The funeral was held at the Christian church in Carthage at 2:00 o'clock Saturday afternoon, Judge C. J. Scofield officiating.  Entombment at Resthaven Abby.  The pallbearers were Charles Irish, Charles Peck, Andrew McGee, Orville White, John Rings and Ed Kimbrough.

Lawrence Willis, 60, a well known farmer of Joetta, died Monday afternoon in Phelps hospital, Macomb, where he had been a patient for three weeks.

He is survived by one daughter, Mrs. Glenn Vance, one son, Franklin Willis and a sister, Mrs. Charles Califf of Denver, Colo.

Funeral services were held in the Carthage Christian church at 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon with Judge C. J. Scofield officiating.  Entombment was in Rest Haven Abbey.