Bertie Mildred Willis (Winfrey)

Bertie Mildred Willis, 81, of Independence, MO, passed away on Wednesday, February 24, 2021. Visitation will be held from 5-7pm on Wednesday, March 3, 2021 at Speaks Suburban Chapel, 18020 E 39th St., Independence, MO 64055. Service will be private. Internment will be at Oak Ridge Memory Gardens, also in Independence, MO. Bertie was born February 14, 1940, to Thomas Winfrey and Mildred Ezard, in Montreal, MO. Bertie attended Camdeton high school and after graduation she attended Draughans Business College. Bertie was a life-long member of the Calvary (Grace) Baptist Church in Independence, MO. Bertie married William Willis and the pair had three children. Bertie was a production planner at Bendix Aerospace for 17 years. Bertie was a wonderful mother and grandmother and loved sewing and fishing. Left to cherish Bertie’s memory are her children, Stanley Willis and Chris Waters; siblings, Betty Hygh, Ruth Wilkerson and James Winfrey; sister-in-law, Marjorie Teer; brother-in-law, Donald (Patricia) Willis; and grandchildren, Dalton Waters, Chrystal Robbins, Dillon Waters, Tyler Freeman, and Kelsey Freeman. Bertie is preceded in death by her parents; husband, William “Bud” Willis; and daughter, Joy Camelle Freeman. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Grace Baptist Church. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.speakschapel.com (Arrangements: Speaks Chapel (816) 373-3600)