Jonathan W. Willis, 78, of Bettie, North Carolina, passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 30, 2026, at the Crystal Coast Hospice House.

A funeral service to honor Jonathan’s life will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, May 8th at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Harkers Island. The family will receive friends the evening prior 6 p.m. until 8 p.m., Thursday, May 7th also at the Church. Jonathan will be laid to rest privately at Red Hill Cemetery.

Jonathan grew up in Harkers Island and lived most of his adult life in Beaufort before moving to the community of Bettie three years ago. His parents were Carl William Willis and Ella Dee Hancock Willis of Harkers Island. As he was the first among 43 grandchildren of his maternal grandparents, Charlie and Margarette Hancock, he came of age in a large extended family that showered him with love and affection for his entire life,

He was an athlete, an artist, a musician, a hairstylist, a carver, and a leader in his church. His career as a hairstylist spanned more than half a century, with clients from all over Carteret and adjacent counties. He was involved with both the Core Sound Decoy Carvers Guild and the Core Sound Waterfowl Museum & Heritage Center. He served as a teacher and Bishop’s counselor in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was a member of the church’s stake (diocese) leadership. His greatest legacy will be his family, which included not just his wife and children, but dozens of cousins and in-laws with whom he remained closely connected long after their shared childhoods.

He was preceded in death by his parents and by infant twin daughters, Kelly and Krissy, both of whom died at childbirth. He is survived by his wife, Susan; his daughter, Happiness (David Clifton); and his sons, Asher (Vera) and Aaron (Crystal). His grandchildren are Graysen (James Shockley), Ella and Conner Clifton, Sophie and Julia Willis, and Izzy, Porter, and Sloane Willis.

He has one surviving aunt, June Davis, and one surviving uncle, Joel Hancock. There are far too many surviving cousins to list, but all of them recognized him as a “first among equals” in their group and have returned the affection he offered to them so graciously.

Family and friends are welcome to submit online condolences at www.mundenfuneralhome.net.

Arrangements by Munden Funeral Home & Crematory in Morehead City, NC.