May 1, 1944 ~ September 18, 2024
Barbara “Barb” (Mallison) Willick, 80, of Hart, passed away Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, at Trinity Health Hospital in Muskegon, with her loving family at her side. She fought a determined and courageous battle against cancer.
Barb was born on May 1, 1944, the daughter of Darwin and Virginia (Herin) Mallison. She grew up a farm girl on her parent’s farm near Ferry, Mich. She graduated Shelby High School in 1962, a beautiful young teenager, where she first met her one and only love, Lyle Arthur “Art” Willick, whom she married in 1966. They recently celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary. Barb made many lifelong friends, not only locally, but through the years as she moved with her family to the Kalamazoo area; Anderson, Ind.; Port Huron, Grant, and finally back home to rural Ferry and most recently to Hart.
Barb was not only a housewife, as she helped raise her family, but enjoyed several different career experiences over the years. Travel, too, was always something that she looked forward to. She and Art traveled to Germany, California, Alaska, Florida, New Orleans and the UP, to name a few places.
If someone mentioned playing cards, Barb was always more than ready and could get together a group of friends at a moment’s notice. A sporting event or other activity that involved any of her grandchildren, you could expect to see her in the bleachers or audience. Of course, she seldom missed the Thursday night “fertilizer” meeting and was always ready to dance if someone mentioned a favorite local band was playing somewhere not too far away. She also really enjoyed knitting, reading, gardening, painting, bird watching with her cat, Prince, and sunsets at the Oval with Art, either in the 1929 Model A or the 1971 Cutlass, a car they have owned for 31 years. The Model A was given to Art by his uncle “Stub” in 1957. Barb and Art dated in this car in high school and went to prom in it in 1959. They have owned the car for 65 years, and it has Barb’s initials on the passenger door – a lasting permanent memory of her.
Barb was also passionate about her faith, praying for her family and friends. She will be sadly missed by family and friends.
Barb was an incredibly caring and loving woman. She had a great and unconditional love for her family, beginning with Art; daughter, Jenni (Jeff) Trosper; sons, Todd (Jennell) Willick and Ross (Julie) Willick; grandchildren, Brianna, Hannah, Brody, Reese, Brynnley and Morgan; younger sister, Joan (Al) Smith; sisters-in-law, Joyce Mallison and Doreen (Mike) Jacobson; brothers-in-law, Roger (Diane) Willick and Gary (Sally) Willick; many beloved nieces and nephews. Barb also enjoyed life and experienced it to the fullest with not only family but many close friends.
Barb was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Gordon, who died at birth, her in-laws, Lyle and Marge Willick, a nephew, Michael Mallison and her brother-in-law, Gary Copus.
A celebration of life was held at 11:30 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024, at Shelby United Methodist Church, 51 E. Third St., Shelby, Mich. 49455, with Pastor Beverly Williams officiating. The family received friends from 5-8 p.m., Tuesday, Sept., 24, 2024, at Shelby United Methodist Church, and again from 10-11:30 a.m., Sept. 25, 2024, also at Shelby United Methodist Church.
Please consider memorial gifts to: The Ladder Community Center, 67 N. State St., Shelby, Mich. 49455 or Crystal Valley Care Fund, P.O. Box 451, Hart, Mich. 49420.
Harris Funeral Home, in Shelby, is in charge of arrangements.
harrisfhome.com
