Dulan Gail Willis, age 78 of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, passed away on April 1, 2023. He was born on the family farm in Willisville, Tennessee on August 8, 1944, to the late Robert "Mutt" Willis and Edith O'Guin Willis. He was the baby of the family, and upon the early death of his father, his siblings pulled together to help with the family farm. The siblings remained close the rest of their lives. He graduated from Newbern High School in 1962 and joined the National Guard, where he served for 8 years. He was sent to Memphis during the sanitation strikes and assassination of MLK Jr., both of which left a strong impression on him. He later attended the University of Tennessee Martin, where he met the love of his life, Diana, when he rented a room from her aunt. After graduation, he went on to teach science at Ripley High School. He was there the first year the school was integrated and was voted Teacher of the Year by the entire student body.  He enjoyed teaching, but after several years began working for the Horace Mann Teachers Insurance Company. He started as an agent but ended his successful 30-year career as regional vice-president and traveled frequently throughout the country. Dulan moved to Murfreesboro in 1995 and soon became an active member of Lascassas Baptist Church. He loved his family immeasurably. Kind and gentle, he stood up for what he believed in and exemplified good Christian witness. Dulan was loved and respected by all who knew him.

Dulan was preceded in death by his siblings: Tolbert Willis, Emmett Willis, Barnard Willis, and Norma Underwood. He is survived by his sister, Lavata Beatty, of Newbern, Tennessee and his loving wife of 57 years, Diana McCollum Willis. He also leaves behind two daughters, April (Brooks) Pearson of Conway, Arkansas, and Alison (Kevin) Jones of Smyrna, Tennessee.  His surviving grandchildren were his pride and joy: Fletcher, Stewart, and Meredith Pearson of Conway, Arkansas and Abbie, Cooper, and Carson Jones of Smyrna, Tennessee.

A visitation will be held on Monday, April 3rd, 2023, from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM at Woodfin Chapel, Murfreesboro. Graveside services, officiated by Kenneth Summey of Lascassas Baptist Church, will be held on Tuesday, April 4th, 2023, at 10:00 AM at Evergreen Cemetery in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.