Michael Joe Willis, 66, of Connelly Springs, passed away on Tuesday April14, 2026 at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist after a period of declining health.

Mr. Willis was born on December 7, 1959 in Cleveland County, a son of Nellie Ruth Felmet Willis and the late Joe Forest Willis. He was a hard worker and tried to fix anything that needed to be fixed. He loved to tell jokes and share cooking recipes with everyone. Michael wanted to make them feel just a little bit better than when he found them.

Michael loved his Lord and Savior, his family and friends. He fought a hard fight throughout the past few years with a lot of medical issues, but he never lost his faith and would say that God was in control.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife of 48 years, Tina Lowman Willis of the home, a son Colt Michael Willis of Connelly Springs, his mother Nellie Ruth Willis of Vale and two sisters, Leslie Diane Hambrick (Jack) of Vale and Karla Lea Reynolds (Chad) of Lincolnton.

Funeral Services for Michael Joe Willis will be held at 4:00 P.M. Monday April 20, 2026 at Mount Calvary Baptist Church, Miller Bridge Rd., Connelly Springs, NC, with Rev. Curtis Carroll and Rev. Dwight Lowman officiating. Interment will follow in the Mount Calvary Baptist Church Cemetery.

The family will receive friends Monday from 3:00 until 4:00 P.M. at Mount Calvary Baptist Church.

Memorials may be made to Amorem, Burke Hospice, 1721 Enon Rd. Valdese, NC 28690.

An online obituary and obituary is available at www.heritagefuneralservice.com