Augustine (Marty) Lamar Willis' Obituary
Augustine (Marty) Willis of Buckingham, FL, 73, passed peacefully at Gulf Coast medical center on May 28, 2023, after a brief illness. Marty was preceded in death by his parents Edward and Vivian (Douglas) Willis.
Marty is survived by his Daughter, Stephanie Willis of Louisiana, Son, Michael Willis & Daughter-in -law Suzie Willis of North Carolina, along with his Ex-Wife, Helen Willis. In addition, his Sisters, Betsy (Sissy) Johnson and Connie Flint and Brother Stephen Willis, his Brother-in-law William (Billy) Flint and Sister-in-law Marguerite Willis. His grandchildren, Madyson Gross, Andrew Willis, Hailey Revels, & Katelyn Willis, Nieces & Nephews, Tina Robinson, Wealthyan Johnson, Wesley Flint, Matthew Willis, & Amber Willis.
Marty, a native of Fort Myers was born at Lee Memorial hospital on May 8, 1950. He attended Fort Myers High School to the 11th grade. Marty was working full-time by the age of 14 to help support his family. He spent many years working with his father as a commercial fisherman in the Gulf of Mexico. Eventually, he worked as an air conditioning and refrigeration technician specializing in commercial systems for 30+ years and a pioneer in his field.
Marty’s love of his family and nature was handed down to his children. Many family vacations and weekends were spent camping and enjoying the great outdoors. He took up motorcycling later in life, travelling the open roads and was proud to have ridden the Dragon’s Tail in North Carolina several times with his friends and family. He loved new experiences and places.
Marty loved his family, and always found good things to say about them. He was a tough man raised in hard times, but knew love and how to love. He was always willing to lend a hand and to support those in need. He valued family, friends, and experiences over material things and passed those values on. He cared for so many and so many cared for him. The list of lives he touched and that touched him is too long to recite. His was a life well lived on his own terms, he would always say, “Thank you, but I’ll do it my way.”
A memorial service will be held on June 17 at 11AM, at 6620 Westwood Acres Road, Fort Myers, FL.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Fort Myers Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, 1589 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers, FL 33907, 239-936-0555. Online condolences may be offered at: www.fortmyersmemorial.com.
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