Charlene Willis

Charlene Agnes (Boan) Willis, 86, of Kansas City, Missouri, passed away peacefully on December 22, 2022. Charlene had battled Alzheimer’s and was a resident at Wexford Place in the memory care unit. She was born to the late Charles A. and Mary (Renner) Boan on May 23, 1936, in Kansas City, Missouri. Charlene graduated from the Northeast High School in Kansas City, Missouri in 1954, and married her husband, Jerry Willis, on February 14, 1981. As a child, she was given her the nickname “Mooney,” which would stick with her the rest of her life.

Charlene was a member of the Platte Woods United Methodist Church and loved the Lord with all her heart. She was employed throughout her lifetime as a telephone operator for the Federal Government, and a dispatcher for the Federal Protective Agency. In her free time, Charlene enjoyed travel all over the world with her husband, from places like Maui all the way to Alaska. They went on 18 cruises together. Charlene and Jerry never missed an episode of the Young and the Restless, even making sure to watch it when traveling . She loved to sew and had a hand for quilting. Charlene was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, and friend to all of those who knew her and will be dearly missed.

She was preceded in death by her parents: Charles and Mary Boan; son: James Locascio; brother: Bill Boan; and brother-in-law: Walt Smith.

Survivors include her husband: Jerry Willis; children: Russ (Brenda) Locascio, Kathy (Mike) Spiegelhalter, and Lora Locascio; siblings: Patricia (Tom) Spurgeon, Charles (Jackie) Boan, Harold (Ruth) Boan, Margaret Smith, and Ruth (Steve) Fairbanks; sister-in-law: Mary Boan; 7 grandchildren, and 13 great grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the City Union Mission Homeless Shelter located at: 1700 E. Eighth Street, Kansas City, MO 64106 or the Platte Woods United Methodist Church located at: 7310 NW Prairie View Rd, Kansas City, MO 64151.