Doris Julia (McGinness) Willsie, 79, Colorado Springs, Colo.

Friday, Nov. 6, 2009

Doris Julia (McGinness) Willsie, 79, of Colorado Springs, Colo., died Oct. 12, 2009, at her home. She was born June 8, 1930, in Maryville, Mo., to Robert and Beulah (Mounts) McGinness.

She was raised near Maryville and graduated from Horace Mann College High School.

She attended Northwest Missouri State University for three years before leaving to marry Lieutenant Donovan L. Willsie at Vance Air Force Base, Enid, Okla.

Their marriage lasted 58 years with four children, 12 grandchildren, one great-granddaughter and one step-great-granddaughter.

She was a dedicated and loving Air Force wife and mother who braved many tribulations during the years, keeping her family together during many military assignments and absences by her husband.

She was also a weekly volunteer at the Marian house soup kitchen for more than 14 years.

She was preceded in death by her parents; four sisters, Lois, in infancy, Beverly Goff, Roberta Richey and Shirley Lowden; two brothers, Kenneth McGinness and Marlin McGinness; and a granddaughter, Erin Carpenter, who also died in infancy.

She is survived by her husband, Lt. Col. (ret.) Donovan L. Willsie; sister, Virginia Beal of Mound City, Mo.; brother, Robert McGinness of Maryville, Mo.; daughters, Vickie Porter and her husband James of Port Tobacco, Sandra Carpenter and her husband Craig of Fort Collins, Colo., and Nancy Harrison and her husband Bob of Colorado Springs, Colo.; son, Lt. Col. (ret.) James R. Willsie and his wife Susan of Albuquerque, N.M.; grandchildren, O'Ryan Porter and his wife Kelly of La Plata, Shawn Harrison and his wife Kate of Superior, Colo., Shane Porter of Deale, Jenna (Harrison) Evans and her husband Sean of Colorado Springs, Colo., Kaitlyn (Willsie) Altman and her husband Matt of Portland, Ore., Jennifer (Carpenter) Worthington and her husband Jacob of Colorado Springs, Colo., Samantha Carpenter of Fort Collins, Colo., Colleen Willsie of Colorado Springs, Colo., Kevin Willsie of Las Cruces, N.M., Scott Carpenter of Fort Collins, Colo., and Jamie Harrison of Colorado Springs, Colo.; and her 11 month-old great-granddaughter, Olivia Grace Altman, who lives with her parents in Portland, Ore.; her loving 4-year-old step-great-granddaughter, Emma Jane Evans who lives in Colorado Springs, Colo.; as well as many adoring nieces and nephews.

Her funeral services were held Oct. 15 at St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Colorado Springs.

Family interment will be at the Fort Logan National Cemetery, Denver, at a time to be determined.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Colorado Springs Therapeutic Riding Center, 3254 Paseo Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80909.

Funeral arrangements were provided by Evergreen Funeral Home in Colorado Springs, Colo.