Howard Arthur willis
30 October 1920 - 20 August 2010
Howard was born at the Rushton Private Hospital in Cecil Street, Toowoomba. He was the second son of Will and Hilary. Howard always enjoyed learning, often topping his class at school. As a young boy he had dreams of becoming a doctor.
Howard also excelled at sport. He particularly enjoyed playing cricket, tennis and hockey. While living at Woombye, Howard was an active member of the Woombye Cricket Club, including for a time acting as club secretary. Howard was presented with an award for his services to the club over the period 1946-1949.
Howard was also very skillful at playing billiards. He was enthralled by the mathematics of the game and later in retirement, always looked forward to playing with his old friends at the local 50s and Over Centre. Howard even constructed a billiards room under the family home at Manly so that he could have a game with family and friends at any time. Howard's love of sport continued into his later years and he would often watch sporting events on television until late at night.
Howard was only 12 when he contracted juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, a serious disease that caused him much pain and continued to do so for the rest of his life. In those days the treatment for this condition often involved lengthy confinement in bed and having to take some very unpleasant curatives. This was Howard's life until he was about 17. His parents visited a range of doctors and practitioners of natural therapies seeking a cure for their son. There were occasions when they were told to just put him in a nursing home and forget about him because the chances of him living past 27 were slim. Howard did not let such bleak prognoses affect or define him. Indeed, this was a critical time for Howard as it helped to forge the resilience and perseverance which characterised his whole life. So determined was he not to let the disease beat him that Howard pushed through the pain to re-learn many skills that people without disabilities often take for granted. Ultimately, there was very little that he could not do.
When Howard was 19 it was thought that spending some time with his uncle Ted Cornell and his wife Meg at their guest house on Magnetic Island in tropical north Queensland might help him with his arthritis. Howard ended up staying with Ted and Meg for nine months. Howard used to tell the story of how sometimes he would go to bed at night and wake in the morning to find his feet and bed sheets covered in dirt with extinguished matches lying beside where he slept. This mystified everyone at the guest house until one night someone happened to see Howard leaving the property, carrying a lighted lamp, and followed him to see where he went and what he did. It seems that Howard had been walking the length and breadth of the island completely asleep and unaware of what he was doing and where he was going - including over and around the local cliff tops - and all without putting one foot amiss!
Howard used to enjoy telling funny family stories. One such story, relayed by his cousin Terry Raftery, concerns a time when Howard's family were still living at Erinvale at Meringandan (which would have been prior to 1927 when the family moved to Woombye). Howard told Terry about how he and his brother Roy used to catch the young boars in their Uncle Cyril's (Terry's father) pig litters and hold them down for castration. On one occasion Uncle Cyril said, "Good work boys, now I'll do you two blokes as well". Howard told Terry how he and Roy then bolted off in a cloud of dust and headed towards Erinvale with daylight coming second. Terry did not know what happened when Uncle Cyril wanted the boys to help him out again!
In 1950 Howard went to live, and work, with his brother Roy, his wife Mary and their family on their cane farm at Mooball, near Murwillumbah, NSW. In December 1954, Howard suffered serious leg burns as a result of being caught in a cane fire. Subsequently, Howard returned to live with his parents at Wellington Point, near Cleveland in Queensland, where they were then living in retirement after having moved there from Woombye in 1949. Howard attended the Taringa Rehabilitation Centre where he learnt book-keeping, electronics and other skills. One of the people Howard got to know during the time he was at the rehabilitation centre was the poet Kath Walker (later known as Oodgeroo Noonuccal).
Howard was able to turn his hand to other occupations in his early life, including being a bus proprietor and a real estate agent. In fact, it was during the time when Howard was working as a real estate agent that he located the property at Mooball which Roy and Mary eventually bought.
Howard was a man of many talents. He was a highly skilled fisherman and always looked forward to holidays at the beach and fishing. Over the years he loved going to Caloundra, Maroochydore, Stradbroke Island, Yeppoon, Byron Bay and Currumbin with his family. He also greatly enjoyed going to Fraser Island each year with his brother Roy and some other friends to fish. Over the period Howard lived back with Will and Hilary at Wellington Point he and Will would often go out fishing and crabbing together. Later, when living at Manly, Saturdays would frequently see him going out in his dingy again with Will and subsequently, with his eldest son Don and father-in-law Richard Brock to fish from either Wellington Point, Thorneside or Cleveland depending on the wind and tide. From a young age Howard also showed himself to be a keen gardener, wood craftsman and cook. During his retirement he made high quality coffee tables and jewellery boxes for his family from the silky oak wood that had been grown on the Woombye farm. Howard was expert at making rosella jams and chutneys from the fruit and vegetables he grew in his garden. He particularly enjoyed making pattie cakes to share with his family, especially his grandchildren.
Howard was also very community-minded, being an active, long-term P&C member and Vice-President at both Manly Primary School and Wynnum High School. To help the High School in its fund raising efforts, for instance, Howard spent many a cold night collecting entrance fees from people using the school grounds to park their cars when they came to attend events at the School's assembly hall.
Howard was a highly-principled man and taught his children the importance of honesty and taking pride in all they did. He would often say, "If a job's worth doing, do it well". Howard showed how much he believed in the value of these words himself by daily putting them into practice in his own life.
Howard was born at the Rushton Private Hospital in Cecil Street, Toowoomba. He was the second son of Will and Hilary. Howard always enjoyed learning, often topping his class at school. As a young boy he had dreams of becoming a doctor.
Howard also excelled at sport. He particularly enjoyed playing cricket, tennis and hockey. While living at Woombye, Howard was an active member of the Woombye Cricket Club, including for a time acting as club secretary. Howard was presented with an award for his services to the club over the period 1946-1949.
Howard was also very skillful at playing billiards. He was enthralled by the mathematics of the game and later in retirement, always looked forward to playing with his old friends at the local 50s and Over Centre. Howard even constructed a billiards room under the family home at Manly so that he could have a game with family and friends at any time. Howard's love of sport continued into his later years and he would often watch sporting events on television until late at night.
Howard was only 12 when he contracted juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, a serious disease that caused him much pain and continued to do so for the rest of his life. In those days the treatment for this condition often involved lengthy confinement in bed and having to take some very unpleasant curatives. This was Howard's life until he was about 17. His parents visited a range of doctors and practitioners of natural therapies seeking a cure for their son. There were occasions when they were told to just put him in a nursing home and forget about him because the chances of him living past 27 were slim. Howard did not let such bleak prognoses affect or define him. Indeed, this was a critical time for Howard as it helped to forge the resilience and perseverance which characterised his whole life. So determined was he not to let the disease beat him that Howard pushed through the pain to re-learn many skills that people without disabilities often take for granted. Ultimately, there was very little that he could not do.
When Howard was 19 it was thought that spending some time with his uncle Ted Cornell and his wife Meg at their guest house on Magnetic Island in tropical north Queensland might help him with his arthritis. Howard ended up staying with Ted and Meg for nine months. Howard used to tell the story of how sometimes he would go to bed at night and wake in the morning to find his feet and bed sheets covered in dirt with extinguished matches lying beside where he slept. This mystified everyone at the guest house until one night someone happened to see Howard leaving the property, carrying a lighted lamp, and followed him to see where he went and what he did. It seems that Howard had been walking the length and breadth of the island completely asleep and unaware of what he was doing and where he was going - including over and around the local cliff tops - and all without putting one foot amiss!
Howard used to enjoy telling funny family stories. One such story, relayed by his cousin Terry Raftery, concerns a time when Howard's family were still living at Erinvale at Meringandan (which would have been prior to 1927 when the family moved to Woombye). Howard told Terry about how he and his brother Roy used to catch the young boars in their Uncle Cyril's (Terry's father) pig litters and hold them down for castration. On one occasion Uncle Cyril said, "Good work boys, now I'll do you two blokes as well". Howard told Terry how he and Roy then bolted off in a cloud of dust and headed towards Erinvale with daylight coming second. Terry did not know what happened when Uncle Cyril wanted the boys to help him out again!
In 1950 Howard went to live, and work, with his brother Roy, his wife Mary and their family on their cane farm at Mooball, near Murwillumbah, NSW. In December 1954, Howard suffered serious leg burns as a result of being caught in a cane fire. Subsequently, Howard returned to live with his parents at Wellington Point, near Cleveland in Queensland, where they were then living in retirement after having moved there from Woombye in 1949. Howard attended the Taringa Rehabilitation Centre where he learnt book-keeping, electronics and other skills. One of the people Howard got to know during the time he was at the rehabilitation centre was the poet Kath Walker (later known as Oodgeroo Noonuccal).
Howard was able to turn his hand to other occupations in his early life, including being a bus proprietor and a real estate agent. In fact, it was during the time when Howard was working as a real estate agent that he located the property at Mooball which Roy and Mary eventually bought.
Howard was a man of many talents. He was a highly skilled fisherman and always looked forward to holidays at the beach and fishing. Over the years he loved going to Caloundra, Maroochydore, Stradbroke Island, Yeppoon, Byron Bay and Currumbin with his family. He also greatly enjoyed going to Fraser Island each year with his brother Roy and some other friends to fish. Over the period Howard lived back with Will and Hilary at Wellington Point he and Will would often go out fishing and crabbing together. Later, when living at Manly, Saturdays would frequently see him going out in his dingy again with Will and subsequently, with his eldest son Don and father-in-law Richard Brock to fish from either Wellington Point, Thorneside or Cleveland depending on the wind and tide. From a young age Howard also showed himself to be a keen gardener, wood craftsman and cook. During his retirement he made high quality coffee tables and jewellery boxes for his family from the silky oak wood that had been grown on the Woombye farm. Howard was expert at making rosella jams and chutneys from the fruit and vegetables he grew in his garden. He particularly enjoyed making pattie cakes to share with his family, especially his grandchildren.
Howard was also very community-minded, being an active, long-term P&C member and Vice-President at both Manly Primary School and Wynnum High School. To help the High School in its fund raising efforts, for instance, Howard spent many a cold night collecting entrance fees from people using the school grounds to park their cars when they came to attend events at the School's assembly hall.
Howard was a highly-principled man and taught his children the importance of honesty and taking pride in all they did. He would often say, "If a job's worth doing, do it well". Howard showed how much he believed in the value of these words himself by daily putting them into practice in his own life.
Joyce Mildred Chapman (nee brock)
8 September 1927- 27 May 2009
Joyce grew up on her parents’ farm at Wellington Point, together with her brother Ken and sister Beryl. Their parents, Lucy and Richard Brock, were well-known local identities. From Wellington Point State School, Joyce graduated to Business College, and started work at Chambers McNab Solicitors in the Bank of New South Wales building in Brisbane. Her happy marriage to William (Bill) Chapman (1909-1951) came to an untimely end when Bill died from melanoma a few weeks before their daughter Janet was born. Up until his death Bill had been a Sergeant in the Queensland Police Force.
Together with baby Janet, Joyce returned to live with Lucy and Richard at Wellington Point. Six years later Joyce met and subsequently married Howard. Living at Manly, three more children arrived to complete their family: Donald, Jennifer, and Kenneth.
Joyce always had a great sense of fun and enjoyed a good laugh. She loved travelling and being with people, and would often organise get-togethers with family and friends. She also enjoyed regular conversations with her friends and family on the phone. She loved going on outings to the Botanical Gardens and into the city. In her later years Joyce enjoyed taking holidays to places where she could see the wonders of the Australian countryside, nature and bird life. When she was young Joyce especially liked going for walks, dancing, attending the pictures and the theatre. From an early age Joyce had also shown a strong interest in history and in subsequent years, looked forward to attending the talks given by the local Historical Society.
Joyce grew up on her parents’ farm at Wellington Point, together with her brother Ken and sister Beryl. Their parents, Lucy and Richard Brock, were well-known local identities. From Wellington Point State School, Joyce graduated to Business College, and started work at Chambers McNab Solicitors in the Bank of New South Wales building in Brisbane. Her happy marriage to William (Bill) Chapman (1909-1951) came to an untimely end when Bill died from melanoma a few weeks before their daughter Janet was born. Up until his death Bill had been a Sergeant in the Queensland Police Force.
Together with baby Janet, Joyce returned to live with Lucy and Richard at Wellington Point. Six years later Joyce met and subsequently married Howard. Living at Manly, three more children arrived to complete their family: Donald, Jennifer, and Kenneth.
Joyce always had a great sense of fun and enjoyed a good laugh. She loved travelling and being with people, and would often organise get-togethers with family and friends. She also enjoyed regular conversations with her friends and family on the phone. She loved going on outings to the Botanical Gardens and into the city. In her later years Joyce enjoyed taking holidays to places where she could see the wonders of the Australian countryside, nature and bird life. When she was young Joyce especially liked going for walks, dancing, attending the pictures and the theatre. From an early age Joyce had also shown a strong interest in history and in subsequent years, looked forward to attending the talks given by the local Historical Society.
howard and joyce
While living at Woombye, Howard often played the trumpet and drums in dance bands at the local community dance halls. He continued this interest after he went to live with Will and Hilary at Wellington Point. One night, he met Joyce Chapman, a young widow with a six year old daughter. Joyce had come to the dance with her brother, Ken and his wife Rome. Joyce caught Howard’s eye and, by evening's end, he had asked her out. Rome assisted by pointing out to Joyce what a nice fellow Howard was, adding, “Joyce, he has a car!” – a rarity in those days as eligible men with cars were scarce.
Howard and Joyce (1958)
After a whirlwind courtship of six weeks, Howard proposed and Joyce happily accepted. They were married in the Holy Trinity Church in Fortitude Valley on 27 September 1958 and moved to Manly, Brisbane, where they raised their family.
To provide a steady job and income for his growing family, Howard joined the Queensland Public Service, working as an accounts clerk in the Transport Department where he remained until retiring
27 years later. Howard also turned their back yard into a sizable vegetable, banana and citrus fruit tree garden, complete with a chicken coop, to further supplement the family's weekly food budget. Howard and Joyce became Christians in 1970, after which their faith continued to be important to them for the rest of their lives. They celebrated 50 years of happily married life in 2008.
Over the last few years of their lives, Joyce and Howard's health declined. Howard's rheumatoid arthritis never left him and regularly caused him much pain, although he was seldom heard to complain. Joyce developed macular degeneration and Howard increasingly became hard of hearing. Joyce and Howard were very dependent on each other: Joyce was Howard's ears and for her, he became her eyes.
Howard was devastated after Joyce passed away suddenly in May 2009 but he continued to live at Manly until his hospitalisation following a fall in April 2010. True to the principles and values that had guided his life, Howard fought courageously and did all he could (including undergoing surgery) to overcome this setback and return home. Sadly, it was not to be. Howard remained in hospital until passing away in August 2010.
Howard and Joyce's children and grandchildren are immensely grateful for the many happy years they shared with their parents and grandparents and the wonderful life values and treasured memories they left which remain as a lasting legacy.
Howard and Joyce rest together at the Hemmant Cemetery and Crematorium (<https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/172610449/howard-arthur-willis> and <https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/172610534/joyce-mildred-willis>).
Howard and Joyce (1958)
After a whirlwind courtship of six weeks, Howard proposed and Joyce happily accepted. They were married in the Holy Trinity Church in Fortitude Valley on 27 September 1958 and moved to Manly, Brisbane, where they raised their family.
To provide a steady job and income for his growing family, Howard joined the Queensland Public Service, working as an accounts clerk in the Transport Department where he remained until retiring
27 years later. Howard also turned their back yard into a sizable vegetable, banana and citrus fruit tree garden, complete with a chicken coop, to further supplement the family's weekly food budget. Howard and Joyce became Christians in 1970, after which their faith continued to be important to them for the rest of their lives. They celebrated 50 years of happily married life in 2008.
Over the last few years of their lives, Joyce and Howard's health declined. Howard's rheumatoid arthritis never left him and regularly caused him much pain, although he was seldom heard to complain. Joyce developed macular degeneration and Howard increasingly became hard of hearing. Joyce and Howard were very dependent on each other: Joyce was Howard's ears and for her, he became her eyes.
Howard was devastated after Joyce passed away suddenly in May 2009 but he continued to live at Manly until his hospitalisation following a fall in April 2010. True to the principles and values that had guided his life, Howard fought courageously and did all he could (including undergoing surgery) to overcome this setback and return home. Sadly, it was not to be. Howard remained in hospital until passing away in August 2010.
Howard and Joyce's children and grandchildren are immensely grateful for the many happy years they shared with their parents and grandparents and the wonderful life values and treasured memories they left which remain as a lasting legacy.
Howard and Joyce rest together at the Hemmant Cemetery and Crematorium (<https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/172610449/howard-arthur-willis> and <https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/172610534/joyce-mildred-willis>).
Descendant Chart and report
Family members are invited to contact the website administrators via the form on the website home page for the latest descendant charts and reports. If you have any edits to make, or you wish to advise of updates regarding births, deaths and marriages, please contact us via the form on the website home page.