Trudy Willey

Mrs. Trudy Willey

Descended from North Mississippi's pioneering families, Memphis native Trudy Shepard Willey grew up in Memphis' beautiful Hind Park. As a child, she loved taking her bicycle to see movie serials downtown on Saturdays and later riding her favorite horse Prince of the Pea Vines. An accomplished equestrian, Mrs. Willey retained the grace of an athlete through the 12 years of grave illness that led to her death Friday, September 19. Always a top student, Miss Shepard graduated from Central High School in 1950. She joined the Vanderbilt Class of 1954 where she was a chemistry major and made life-long friends in her years there. Professors urged her to take up the study of medicine but she declined, wanting above all else to be a wife and mother. After obtaining a Bachelor of Science from the University of Tennessee at Memphis, Miss Shepard worked as a medical technologist at John Gaston, the University of Tennessee's teaching hospital. There she met the love of her life, a medical student from the Mississippi piney woods. Following her marriage to Dr. L. W. Willey Jr., Mrs. Willey moved to Forest, Mississippi where Dr. Willey joined his father's medical practice. There she observed that Dr. Willey, who was in general practice with his father, was too deeply hurt when the illnesses of his patients resulted in death and encouraged him to find a medical specialty that was to suit him better. The couple moved with their young daughters to New Orleans where Dr. Willey specialized in ophthalmology at Tulane. At the end of his residency, the Willey family moved to Atlanta. Mrs. Willey also lived in St. Augustine, Florida and for the last six years in Athens, Georgia. Mrs. Willey is survived by her children and their spouses: Carol Willey of Decatur, Georgia; Ellen Willey Smitson and Dave Smitson of Zionsville, Indiana; Joe Willey of Athens, Georgia; and Dan and Wonsun Willey of Morgan Hill, California. She is also survived by her grandchildren and their spouses: Dr. Robert and Kaily Smitson of Honolulu, Hawaii; Dr. Christopher and Dr. Emily Smitson of San Francisco, California; Mary and Shawn Aitken of Columbus, Indiana; Luda Smitson of Zionsville, Indiana; Thomas and Nelita Willey of Athens, Georgia and Hannah Willey of Morgan Hill, California. There will be a visitation at 12 noon and a memorial service at 1 p.m. on Saturday, September 20 at Lord and Stephens Westside, 1211 Jimmy Daniel Road, Bogart, Georgia, 706-549-3342. A graveside service at Forest Hill Cemetery in Memphis will follow at 11 a.m. Monday, September 22. A memorial Mass at Christ the King Cathedral in Atlanta is to follow.