Obituary of Margaret Ruth Willis

Margaret "Mickie" (Webber) Howe Willis passed away peacefully on Wednesday, February 19, due to complications from Alzheimer's disease.

For the past three years, Mickie had been a resident at Harmony Memory Care in Morgantown, West Virginia, where she was surrounded by exceptional love, care, and extra Sunday donuts from the amazing staff, for whom her family is deeply grateful.

Mickie is preceded in death by the loves of her life: Tucker, Sloane, Remington, Gibbs, and Tilly, her beloved dogs.

Mickie is survived by her son, Brad, and his wife, Laura, along with their daughters, Gigi and Kendall, who lovingly cared for her in her final years. She is also survived by her daughter, Kelly, her husband, Mark, and their sons, Ben and Nate, as well as her devoted sister, Mary.

During Mickie's senior year, she moved from New York to Iowa and went to Valley High School. After attending the University of Iowa, she married her high school sweetheart, David Howe, and they built their life within the community of West Des Moines, Iowa.

Mickie was a staple in her children's schools. At Fairmeadows Elementary and Stilwell Jr. High School, she took on many roles—assistant kindergarten teacher, librarian, recess monitor, room mom, Brownie troop leader, and even an occasional cast member in school plays.

Outside of the school halls, Mickie also brought her warmth and quick wit to her work at Equitable Life Insurance. She enjoyed the challenge of turning surly callers into happy customers, proving that a little patience and humor could go a long way.

She would say that Neil Diamond's music was the soundtrack to her life, but the roar of a sports crowd was also music to her ears. Mickie was the ultimate sports mom, long before the term even existed. She cherished every game her son played, priding herself on her deep knowledge of baseball and basketball rules. When her son, Brad, became a sports announcer, she never missed listening to him on the air regardless of time changes and other life events.

In her final years, she was most content when her TV was turned to a basketball game. She didn't care who was playing, but she loved closing her eyes and falling asleep to the sound of the crowd cheering.

Mickie was always ahead of the trends. Long before "sports moms" were a thing, she was the OG, supporting from the sidelines. She loved country music before it was cool, ran her own business—Mickie's Clothesline—and, well before American Girl dolls, she was sewing custom outfits for Cabbage Patch dolls to match their owners. And if only she knew that quilted jackets are having a peak fashion moment—because she's had a closet full of them, all sewn from her own beautiful designs, since 2007.

Mickie cherished the friends she made throughout her life: her best friend from high school, in her sorority, Delta Delta Delta, at the Holiday Park baseball fields, in her Tuesday night ladies' bowling league, country western dancing, working at Creekside Quilting, on Meadow Lane, and in her neighborhood cul-de-sac. Even when Mickie's memory began to fail her, it was the reflections of these friendships that anchored her to this life.

Thank you to the amazing employees and Hospice nurses at Harmony of Morgantown. You helped Mickie find joy and peace in her final chapter. Thank you to those of you who loved, cared for, and laughed (sometimes even through tears) with Mickie over the years.

If you would like to do something to honor her memory:

-Consider adopting a pet from your local shelter.

-Don't pass up an opportunity to tell a dog that they are the best boy or girl.

-If you smoke, quit.

-Forgive someone who doesn't deserve it.

-Listen to a Neil Diamond song at max volume.

 

-Eat the extra donut.

Hastings Funeral Home has been entrusted with cremation arrangements. Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.hastingsfuneralhome.com.

Des Moines Register - Des Moines, Iowa

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