George Kanaka'Okai Willis' Obituary
George KanakaÂ'Okai Â"Speed KingÂ" Willis, otherwise known as Uncle Keoki Willis, was taken by our Lord and Savior on October 6, 2005. He was born in Kamalo, Molokai on November 23, 1932, where he was raised by his parents James Kapela and Laida Paia Willis. He was known from California to Washington as the Â"Pure Hawaii Man,Â" which he was. He resided in Tacoma, WA, where he retired from the US Post Office. Upon retiring he became a pillar of the Hawaiian community by giving all of his time to perpetuating our Hawaiian culture to both Hawaiians and Hawaiians at heart. He was a lifetime member of the Hawaii 50th Club, a member of the Tacoma Elks Lodge #174, and also a founder of the Kikaha Oke Kai Outrigger Canoe Club of Federal Way, WA. He also contributed his time to the students of the University of Puget Sound Hawaiian Club. He was known to the students as the Â"Kalua Pig Man,Â" because he taught them to cook pig in the ground with hot rocks and even created their slogan, Â"The proud, the few, the Imu Crew.Â" And proud he was, he was proud to share his culture and heritage with everyone he knew.He is survived by his son, Robert K. Willis, wife Shelley, of Upland, CA, his daughter Julie Patsch, husband David, and grandsons Evan and Corey Patsch of Altaloma, CA. His two sisters Hattie K. Mamala and Gladys Badayos of Waianae, Hawaii. Two nieces, Emma M. Sarono and Erin Willis-Gorai of Tacoma, WA, as well as many other family members and friends. Out aloha and mahalo go to a very special woman in Uncle KeokiÂ's life, Mary Cooney. With love and gratitude for all your support and love for Uncle Keoki. Also, thank you to the staff of Heritage Rehabilitation for taking good care of Uncle Keoki.Visitation will be held from 1:00 PM Â- 8:30 PM, Tuesday, Oct 11, 2005, at Mountain View Funeral Home, and final services will be held at 12:00 PM, Wednesday, Oct 12, 2005, in the Mountain View Celebration of Life Center.
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