Obituary: Avis L. Willis, 96

The following obituary was provided by Cranston-Murphy Funeral Home.

Avis L. (Briggs) Willis of North Kingstown died peacefully on Saturday, July 14 at Roberts Health Centre. She was 96 years old. Willis was the daughter of the late James A. Briggs and Avis E. (Arnold) Briggs. She was also the wife of the late Jedidiah G. Willis.

Willis was a teacher at Wickford Elementary School for many years until her retirement. She was also a member of the Lafayette Advent Christian Church, Washington County Retired Teachers Association, the Central Retired Teachers Association, the Sons & Daughters of Liberty, Young at Heart, the North Kingstown Senior Center and the Women's Guild of the First Baptist Church in Wickford. Her hobbies included playing piano, knitting and tutoring children during the summer. She was the last remaining member of the North Kingstown High School Class of 1933.

She leaves behind two daughters (Frances P. Bach of Long Island and Rosalind L. Willett of Weast Greenwich), three grandchildren (Roberta Newell of Warwick, Keith Willett of Missouri, Paula Manfra-Willis of Cranston), three great-grandchildren (Andrew Newell, Jacob Newell and Emma Newell of Warwick) and two great-great-grandchildren (Hailey Pennebaker and Kali Pennebaker of Missouri). She was the mother of the late Everett G. Willis and sister of the late Minnie Briggs, Amy Briggs and Paul Briggs.

Her funeral service will be held on Thursday, July 19 at 11 a.m. at . A burial will follow in the Rhode Island Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Exeter. Friends and family are invited to calling hours at the funeral home on Wednesday, July 18 from 4 to 7 p.m.