Elois Anderson Willis

RALEIGH, N.C. - Elois Anderson Willis, born Dec 4, 1936, to Alex and Doris Anderson, was surrounded by her family during the week preceding her passing. On Oct 28, 2023, Elois met her Lord and Savior in the early hours of the morning. Elois was preceded in death by her loving husband, Earl; her daughter, Sandra; parents and siblings.

Elois was born in Douglas, GA. Her family lived in multiple towns in Georgia and in Miami, FL. Their last move brought them to Raleigh, NC, when Elois was beginning high school. She spent her junior and senior years at Garner High School where she met Earl Willis, her forever soulmate. On October 23, 1954, at 17 years old, they eloped and were married in Dillon, SC. They shared 68 wonderful years together!

After graduating, Elois used her strong organizational skills and her eye for detail at various administrative jobs: NC SBI, insurance agencies, NC Employees Association, Raleigh Academy, North Carolina National Guard (NCNG) Association, NCNG Education Foundation, IBM, and more. She embraced the age of personal computing and ran her own business out of the home supporting small business owners.

Elois’s joy, focus, and passion was her family. She was the epitome of a supportive wife and mother. While raising two daughters and providing countless hours of elder care to parents and extended family, Elois found time to be a Girl Scout leader, middle school basketball coach, founding member and president (multiple years) of the NCNG’s Ladies Auxiliary, a board member of the NCNG Educational Foundation, and a Pioneer Girls’ leader. In 2002, Elois received the North Carolina National Guard Civilian Commendation Medal and Certificate, the NCNG’s highest civilian award. With her basketball teammates, she was inducted into the Garner High School Hall of Fame in 2015. In addition to her daily devotional time, she attended Bible studies and worshiped at North Raleigh Chapel and Cary Alliance Church. She loved to tell others of her faith and the sustaining grace of God.

Throughout their marriage, Elois and Earl enjoyed traveling. From early on, car trips out West, family vacations, weeks in the NC mountains and weekends camping at the beach were just a few of the highlights. Eventually, they purchased a family vacation home at Holden Beach, NC, where they provided countless family memories for 25 years. Together, they visited all 50 States, Canada, and Panama.

In 2012, Elois was diagnosed with metastasized ovarian cancer. Seven years later, after multiple chemo treatments, her Oncologist brought the difficult news that the cancer was once again growing and untreatable. During Elois’ last 4 years, she touched many lives. She enjoyed and celebrated family weddings, births, and milestones. Clearly, God wanted her around even longer. She kept up with longtime friends and made new ones. As her needs increased, she was lovingly and professionally cared for by The Cypress of Raleigh Home Care aides and the Rosewood Health Center staff. It is no surprise that she stole a place in the hearts of many of her caregivers.

Elois is now in the presence of Jesus. Her job here is finished, and she has heard Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant. .... enter the joy of your Lord."

Elois is survived by her daughter, Andrea (Henry) Kidd; five grandchildren, Kristen (Aaron) Lancaster, Katie (Mike) Dotson, Rob (Megan) Pelon, Sarah (Quintin) Caldwell, Jesse (Philip) Coffey; and six great-grandchildren.

An open service will be held at 2pm on Saturday, November 4, at Bryan-Lee Funeral Home, 831 Wake Forest Rd, Raleigh. For those who were unable to attend, a recording of the ceremony may be found by clicking the “Watch Event” link under the “Events” tab, located at the bottom of this online obituary.

A visitation with refreshments will be held in the parlor immediately following the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the NCNGA Scholarship Fund by sending a check payable to Tarheel Minuteman Foundation, 7410 Chapel Hill Rd, Raleigh, NC 27607. Include “Earl and Elois Willis Memorial Scholarship” in the memo line. Donations may also be made online at https://ncnga.org/tarheel-minuteman-foundation/

A service of Bryan-Lee Funeral Home, Raleigh.