Willie attended Central City schools, graduating in 1952 and then moved to Lincoln where she attended the University of Nebraska graduating with Bachelors of Arts in Journalism and Education in 1956. While in college she was initiated into the Alpha Chi Omega sorority in 1953 and was Xi Chapter President in 1955. She was a devoted Alpha Chi, holding many leadership positions including: Chapter Advisor, Province President, National Council Member, Xi Chapter House Corporation Board President, National House Corporation Board member, Kappa Kappa Alumnae member, Panhellenic Volunteer, National Alumnae Appreciation Award recipient, and attended over 20 Alpha Chi National Conventions where she was ALWAYS the life of the party. Alpha Chi and her many sisters remained near and dear to her throughout her life.
She taught English and Journalism at Millard Lefler Middle School for five years before taking a break to raise three, often non-compliant, children. She also fit in getting her Master of Arts in Education and was appointed to and served on the Lincoln Board of Education, including serving as President, when the kids occasionally behaved. Once she’d done the best she could with them, she went back to teaching at Lefler where she impacted thousands of middle school students until retiring from a total of 25 years of teaching in 1999.
Willie was initiated into PEO in 1970. She was President of Chapter K in 2006-07, and Vice President 2011-12. She was incredibly active locally and nationally. Her PEO sisters were with her always.
In 2002, Willie’s Underwear Project was born. Willie, along with her PEO group, Chapter K, saw a need and filled it. Now, all PEO Chapters in Lincoln assist. ISSUE: Students in LPS have accidents during the school day. Willie: We can’t have students sitting in the nurse’s office, they NEED to be in the classroom learning. SOLUTION: Provide undies, socks, sweatpants, and t-shirts and get them back in the classroom. There you go! A giant feat accomplished by Willie and her crew of volunteers and generous donations. The Project will continue!
Willie had SO many circles. One of her proudest titles was being a “Hooker”! She loved her community of rug hookers and ladies who did appliqué. She was in numerous bridge groups, one dating back over 60 years! She was a member of the Daughters of the Nile and the Order of the Eastern Star. She and Larry were proud members of the Friends of Lied and supported the arts fiercely. They had been members of Westminster Presbyterian Church since 1965. Willie was nominated for the Inspire Lincoln Award for her unwavering service to the community and LPS students specifically, and received the Governor’s Points of Light Award in 2014. She taught Mystery Writing for Bright Lights for many years, even representing Bright Lights in the Star City Holiday Parade dressed up as their star!
Willie is survived by her daughter Met (Dan Searcy), Lincoln; sons Mike (Nancy), Covington, KY, Mark (Jenn), Manassas, VA; grandchildren Billie Gallagher (Alex Adams), Joey Gallagher and Virginia and Mary Shafer; god-daughter Debbi Walsh (Tom), Sun City West, AZ, brother, Bob Desch (Phyllis), Portland, OR, and her best friend and “Bookend”, Ane Banwell. Preceded in death by the love of her life, Larry, her parents and brother Jim.
Celebration of Life open house: Saturday, December 17, 2022 from 2:00pm-5:00pm. Roper and Sons South Lincoln, 3950 Hohensee Drive (SW corner of 40th and Yankee Hill Rd). Private family inurnment at Wyuka Cemetery.
Memorials may be directed to Willie’s Underwear Project (we know, no surprise there) or Xi Chapter Educational Corporation of Alpha Chi Omega reoccurring scholarship. Both of which are tax deductible.