Willa Dean Garris

Willa Dean Garris, 85, of Owensboro, left this world on Thursday, June 11, 2015 to enter her heavenly home. She was born October 7, 1929 in Hopkins Co., KY to the late James R. and Alice Groves. She was an animal lover, especially of dogs. While here, she led a full and vibrant life as a wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. Willa Dean was a very spicy lady. Her spunky nature touched so many lives and her old world wisdom will endure for generations. Well known for her infectious laugh that she called "sniggering", she taught us all to make fun of ourselves and "each other" and that you never place a wager unless you are good for it. Although she was lucky in love, lucky in life, and lucky at the card table, we will always be the lucky ones to have called her ours. She was preceded in death by her husband, Johnnie W. Garris on July 7, 2010.

Surviving are her children, William McKinley "Mike" Garris and wife Jennifer of Owensboro, and Wanda Faye Basham and husband Gary of Philpot, three grandchildren, Jennifer "Jenny" Hays and husband Ward of Jacksonville, N.C., Heather Bevil and husband Todd of Philpot, and Shannon Price and husband Mike of Marietta GA, nine great grandchildren, Easton and Avery Ford, and Mason and Maverick Bevil, all of Philpot, John Michael Price of Marietta, and Jazmine, Lucas, Peyton, and Alyssa Hays.

Services will be 12 Noon Monday, June 15, at Glenn Funeral Home and Crematory. Burial will follow in Owensboro Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be from 2:00-6:00 P.M. Sunday and after 10:00 A.M. Monday at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions can be made to the American Lung Association, 55 W. Wacker Dr., Suite 1150, Chicago, IL 60601 or to St. John United Methodist Church, 2160 Griffith Ave., Owensboro, KY 42301. Online condolences may be placed at www.glennfuneralhome.com.