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In Loving Memory With heavy hearts, but with thanks for the gift of her presence in our lives, the family of Willis Ann Damron announces her passing on Wednesday, July 9, 2025. Born in San Antonio, Texas, on April 1, 1941, her life was a tapestry woven with love, faith, and the kind of joy that touched everyone she met. A woman of boundless warmth and hospitality, she truly never met a stranger. Her yard was a playground for her children and for the neighborhood, while she cleaned, crocheted, or studied inside. She loved children, and her gentleness and patience drew them to her wherever she went. From her children’s earliest days, she served as a Scout den mother, a PTA member, and a Sunday school teacher, guiding not only her own kids but many others with wisdom and kindness. Her days were rooted in faith. She read and studied her Bible daily, and she made sure that her children were at Harlandale Church of Christ every time the doors were open, and that they knew that faith was a living practice, a necessity of daily life. Guiding her family with various forms of communication, from calm discussion to wielding the infamous wooden spoon, she firmly believed in “spare the rod, and spoil the child”. She was endlessly creative—crocheting beautiful doilies, making children’s clothes when they were young, and sharing her crafts with those she loved. It seemed that she could do anything! When her last child was in school, she went to work for H&R Block in San Antonio as a tax preparer, where she helped people navigate the tax code for over 15 years. After her husband’s retirement, she found peace in Leona, Texas, where she enjoyed watching her cows graze, hummingbirds flit around her porch, and deer roam nearby. These simple joys brought her a quiet happiness. Christmas was her favorite time, when the whole family would come "home" to celebrate, filling the house with laughter and the spirit of togetherness she so cherished. As her body failed her, she took comfort in music, singing with songs from some of her favorite artists: Charlie Pride, Conway Twitty Marty Robbins, and others. She leaves behind a legacy of faith, kindness, and love. Her guidance, her stories, her crafts, and the warmth of her embrace will long be remembered by all whose lives she graced. Though her journey on earth is complete, her memory remains a blessing and a light that will never fade. She was welcomed into eternity by those who went before her: her parents, Willis Roy & Alma Joyce Jennings; her brothers, Victor Warren & Edgar Earl Jennings; her beloved husband and soulmate, Donald Ray Damron; and her daughter, Carol Lynn Ellis. Their memories brought her comfort and remained close to her heart throughout her life. She is survived by a devoted family: her son, Darrell (Annette) Damron; son-in-law, Michael W. Ellis; daughters, Joyce Sortino and Lisa (David) Pierce; a large and loving circle of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, and many “unofficial” grandchildren whose lives she touched with open arms. She will be deeply missed by so many! Her family encourages you to share a memory on her tribute page at www.missionparks.com.

Tributes

Willis Ann Damron

April 1, 1941 - July 9, 2025