Willis Moody McWilliams, 87, went to be with the Lord on May 26, 2026, in Kingston, Oklahoma. He was born on September 12, 1938, in a small, white house in Dark Corner, a region in the eastern part of Marshall County, Oklahoma near what is now known as Old Woodville, to Arch McWilliams and Alice Vivian (McCuan) McWilliams.
Angler, hunter, electrician, scholar, beagler, humorist, historian, and disciple of Christ are just a few of the labels folks who knew Willis would apply to him. To his grandchildren, he was known as “Daddy Willis,” and he cried when it was first uttered. His own grandfather, Isaac “Moody” McCuan, had been lovingly renamed “Daddy Moody” after their father, Arch McWilliams, died during the construction of the Frisco Railroad Bridge on October 6, 1941. Willis’s grandkids were too young to know this when they renamed him, and he suspected that the inspiration was divine.
Willis was a graduate of the Kingston High School class of 1956, where his mother Alice relocated her children after the passing of her husband. He was an avid fan of Redskins football, and spent many Friday nights in the stands cheering on his beloved alma mater. He spent many more following his favorite team, the University of Oklahoma Sooners.
After a short engagement, Willis married the love of his life, Mary Loyce, on July 4, 1964. Wills served in the Oklahoma National Guard from Company C 2nd BN. 245th Armor 45th Infantry Division. He was also the one-time Lake Texoma record holder for the largest Blue Gill, weighing 1 pound and 2 ounces and was 10 ¼ inches in length and girth, caught June 27, 2008, but his favored quarry was the flathead catfish, for which he spent many summers fishing. Most summers he would catch enough to feed his family and others for an entire year. He had the first beagle to be inducted into the American Rabbit Hunters Association Progressive Pack Division Reproducer Hall of Fame with Bob’s Lakeside Redhead in 1999. When he wasn’t chasing rabbits, he was writing about it. Willis published numerous articles with various hunting magazines which was his other passion, writing. He went on to write a series of short stories and self published them in the book Dark Corner USA illustrated by his son John Moody McWilliams.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Loyce Bradshaw McWilliams; his parents, Arch McWilliams and Alice Vivian (McCuan) McWilliams; his brothers: Walter Richard McWilliams, Joseph Wendyl McWilliams, and Archie Leo McWilliams; sister, Dorothy Abshier; and his son, John Moody McWilliams.
He is survived by his son, Phillip McWilliams and wife Sarah of Muskogee, Oklahoma; daughter, Marla DaNell McWilliams of Kingston, Oklahoma; grandson, Jerreck Moody McWilliams and wife Sadie of Dark Corner, Oklahoma; grandson, Isaac Jesse Sloan McWilliams and wife Zoey of Muskogee, Oklahoma; granddaughter, Mason “Macy” Blake McWilliams of Kingston, Oklahoma; grandson, Jaden McWilliams of Norman, Oklahoma; granddaughter, Isabella McWilliams of Muskogee, Oklahoma; sister, Judy Liberty; and numerous great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins who loved him.
A family visitation will be held from 7-8 p.m. on Friday, June 5, 2026 at The Gordon Center, located at 305 N. Second Ave. in Durant, Oklahoma.
A graveside service will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 6, 2026 at Kingston Cemetery in Kingston, Oklahoma with Phil McWilliams officiating.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Gordon Funeral Home, 221 N. Third Ave. in Durant.
Phone: (580) 916-9090