Ruth Christine "Chris" Willoughby of Willard, Missouri, passed away August 20, 2020, at age 81.

Chris was born to Marion and Ruth Conrad on March 25, 1939.  She was married to JW Willoughby in May of 1957 and shared almost 42 years together before JW passed in April 1999.  They were blessed with two daughters and one son.

Chris graduated from Walnut Grove High School in 1956 and attended Draughon's Business College before working for a CPA.  After her first child was born, she continued working for the CPA from home while taking care of her children.  Then, JW started his septic tank service and Chris answered the phone, made appointments and did the bookkeeping for the business for over 40 years.

They lived on a farm raising beef cattle along with owning and operating the septic business.  When she could sneak away from the business phone, Chris managed to mow the yard, help in the garden put up canning; and, most of all, loved brush hogging the pastures.

She was also a seamstress and made many of the clothes for the family, which was her night job.  She was a good cook, especially her pies, and loved having family to eat.

After Chris retired from the business, her son James purchased the business and continued JW Willoughby Septic Tank Cleaning.  When she moved to Willard she was able to enjoy her love of puzzles and mowing her yard.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and daughter Debbie Day.

She is survived by daughter Patti Johnson and husband Kenneth of Mt. Vernon; son James Willoughby, Jr., and wife Kristi of Walnut Grove; and son-in-law Gerry Day of Bradleyville.  Two sisters Montie Jones of Walnut Grove and Wanda Jinks and husband Rick of Marshfield and brother Francis Conrad and wife Shirley of Walnut Grove, sister-in-law Barb Willoughby, seven grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

Private family services were held at Rose Hill Cemetery, Willard, MO.