Gene Merrill Willis

Gene Merrill Willis was born on January 29, 1942, in McNary, Arizona and died unexpectedly but peacefully in his home in Jamul, California on March 22, 2023.  Gene descended from a long line of early northern Arizona pioneers, and the spirit of the Old West lived in his veins his whole life.  His parents, Dora and Merrill Roundy Willis, believed their sons should learn to work hard—and they made sure it happened. The early settlers of Snowflake, AZ, where Gene grew up, had constructed a large, impressive stone church meeting house surrounded by landscaping and beautiful rose gardens.  It was an enormous job for any gardener in the high northern Arizona desert.  When Gene was twelve he was hired by the church gardener to be the gardener’s assistant.  It was only many years later that Gene discovered his parents had requested that the gardener hire him—and that they had secretly paid Gene’s wages.

Thus began a life committed to family, faith, hard work and integrity.  Gene could not tolerate wasting time.  As a teen he spent a lot of time hunting and fishing, definitely not a waste of time since he put food on his family’s table.  Large for his age, he was hired while still in high school to work the notoriously demanding green chain at a local mill.  He played football and was selected all conference two years in a row.  His team, the Snowflake Lobos, was the mythical Arizona state champions.  During this time he also played the saxophone in a dance band and worked for a construction company.  It was while roofing a home in falling snow that Gene decided to go to college and study for an indoor job.

Gene was called as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to the East Central States mission, which then consisted of Kentucky, West Virginia and Tennessee.  His down-to-earth upbringing in the rugged landscape of northern Arizona served him well among the honest, hard-working people of Appalachia.  He succeeded as a missionary primarily because he was always willing to pick up a shovel and work alongside whoever needed his help.  This willingness to help others, especially in the dirtiest and most difficult circumstances, became the pattern of his life.  Later he would hire someone to do a job and end up doing half the work himself.  He wasn’t too proud to get his hands dirty; he was proud to get his hands dirty. 

After his mission, Gene returned to Brigham Young University, but needed a job on campus.  He set his sights on working at the campus book store.  At first they turned him down so he made them a deal.  He would work one month for free and if, at the end of the month, they still didn’t want him, he would just leave.  They kept him on and Gene worked in their accounting department for the rest of his university career.

In 1966 he married Judith Markee of Sacramento, CA, in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Oakland, CA, temple and in 1968 he passed the CPA exam and graduated from BYU with a master’s degree in accounting.  They moved to San Diego, CA, where he worked for the accounting firm now known as Deloitte Touche.  Gene, Judy and their four children—Andrea, Brett, Scott and Ryan—made their home in El Cajon where Gene could plant fruit trees, grow a garden, raise chickens and rabbits—and teach his city-born children to work hard as his parents had taught him.  He refused to let the pioneer legacy die.

After some years in public accounting and on the cusp of making partner, Gene had the opportunity to buy the budding company San Diego Florist Supplies.  Nearly 50 years later, with the help of his two sons Scott and Ryan, the company currently has several locations in Southern California and Las Vegas.  He wanted the business to provide a place for his children and grandchildren to work—and other people’s children too.  Over the years he hired many young people to help them earn money for college or missions.

It was never about him, but what he could do for others.  At 81 he was still working every day.  Everyone knew he would never retire.  Quitting was never in his nature.  He made everyone crazy because would never spare himself.  In the photo gallery for this obituary is a recent photo of him climbing on the roof, stringing lights for his granddaughter’s birthday party.  But he didn’t fall off the roof.  In the end he sat on the sofa and his great big generous heart simply stopped.  The old cowboy literally died with his boots on.

He moved seamlessly from this life to the next and is no doubt with his early Arizona pioneer ancestors whose stories he loved so much.  I believe they will agree he earned a seat at their table.  The man who never spared himself was spared the miseries and indignities of old age, something he dreaded.  He has left a big hole in our hearts and in our lives, but has filled it with the incalculable legacy of his example.  It’s a lot to live up to.

He is survived by his wife, four children, their spouses and nine grandchildren.  Interment will be at the R. V. Mike Ramsey Memorial Cemetery in Snowflake, AZ.