Story - The Meade County Messenger


Vol. 119. No.8	FEBRUARY 24, 2010

Former owner of Messenger
passes away Feb. 17

Jane Marlow Willis’ resume might read like a “who’s who” of Meade County.

She was the former editor of the Messenger, a world traveler, served as a lieutenant for the Meade County Fire Protection District, was the regent of the Ambrose Meade Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and a prolific writer. She was also a Peace Corps volunteer, an election supervisor in Bosnia and a teacher of English.

Willis died in her sleep Feb. 17 at her Main Street residence. A memorial service is planned at a later date. Her body was bequeathed to the University of Louisville.

Her father, J.M. Willis, became the paper’s owner in 1934, and it was Willis who was a driving force behind the paper for many years. In 1983, she made the decision to sell the paper.

“I think Meade County has lost a very colorful piece of the fabric that holds the county together,” said Gerry Fischer, president of the Meade County Archaeological Society, of which Willis also was a member.

“She was plain-spoken and just a wonderful person. We enjoyed her very much.” He continued, “It is just a real shock (about her death). She was with us about five or six hours at the River Heritage Festival. I am still just kind of speechless.

She touched everybody in Meade County,” Fischer said. “I have not found one person who didn’t know her and everything that people have told me about her has been good.”

In addition to being a member of the MCAS, Fischer characterized Willis as an ex-officio member of the organization’s Management Operations Committee.

“She was an important part of our society,” he concluded.

Willis also celebrated her 50th high school graduation anniversary last year during the Meade County High School Alumni Association banquet, former alumni officer, Betty Ruth Bruington said.
“She was very much her own person,” Bruington recalled. “She was a good friend. I was a DAR friend and a church friend with her.”

In addition to her activity in the fire department, Bruington said Willis was active “in a lot of places.”
“She was just that type of person,” Bruington continued. “She loved her county and her state.”

Willis also was a world traveler, spending time in Thailand and the Solomon Islands. She often wrote “letters home” from Thailand for publication.

A cat lover, Willis had just accepted shipment of a new hairless cat, Bruington said.

“The cat arrived here last Friday by plane and her friend brought it to her in Brandenburg,” she explained. “It really meant a lot to her – she just loved her cats.”

“She was quite a gal,” Bruington continued. “She will be missed in several different ways.”

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