John Lee Wallis

John Lee Wallis, 76, was born on June 26, 1933 in Oklahoma City and passed away peacefully on Sept. 23, 2009 in Plano, TX with family by his side. John was born to John and Lela Wallis. He attended Oklahoma Military Academy and graduated from Classen High School in 1951. He attended Oklahoma State Univ. and was a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity. In 1952, he married Carolyn Ann Kennan. Together they had three daughters, Debra Lee Wallis, Cathy Lynn Wallis and Julie Ann Wallis. As a boy, his first job was to deliver the Oklahoman and Times Newspaper each day in his neighborhood. As a young man, he was an outstanding salesman for the Mennan Co. and Abbott Laboratories. He won numerous awards for his accomplishments. In 1978, he married Carolyn Bertie Flanagan. Together they owned the Miller Beer Distributorship known as Southern Sales in Ardmore, Oklahoma, which region included all of Southern Oklahoma. John Lee was an avid outdoorsman whose love of the outdoors was instilled in him early in life by his father. He loved to hunt and fish, taking him as far as the Arctic Circle. He told many amazing tales of his hunts, including the time he shot 3 of the largest Tom Turkeys of his life with a single rifle shot. He always made sure the family had a wild turkey on the dinner table at each Thanksgiving. His love of the outdoors was instilled in his children and grandchildren, too, as he took them on many of his hunting, fishing and camping trips throughout the years. He loved to spend time in Colorado, especially Broadacres Ranch in Creede, Colorado, and fly-fishing on the Rio Grande River. He was a national spear-fishing champion in the 1960's, winning tournaments throughout the country. With his family, John Lee spent many weekends boating at Lake Texoma and Lake Murray. In his downtime, he was a passionate reader of books and especially loved history and mystery novels. He had a soft-spot in his heart for man's best-friend, too. He trained Pointer dogs to hunt and raised quail in his backyard. His latest dog pals were named Tobie and Tyler. The dogs stayed near in his final days and Tyler leapt unexpectedly onto his bed delighting him tremendously. John had a smile that was a mile wide and we will all miss the wonderful stories he told sitting around the kitchen table. He is preceded in death by his daughter Julie Wallis Weaver and his parents John and Lela Wallis. He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Carolyn Bertie Wallis. He is also survived by one sister Sally Wallis of Chico, CA and her family. Other survivors are daughter Debbie Wallis Cason, husband Gene, of Plano, TX, grandson Chris Lee Cason, wife Jodi and great-grandsons Kellen Lee Cason and Cameron Riley Hamilton Cason of University Park, TX, grandson Brandon Scott Cason, wife Melissa and great-granddaughter Contessa Rose Cason of Plano, TX, granddaughter Taylor Michelle Cason of Plano, TX, daughter Cathy Wallis Doyle and husband Ken, grandchildren Lauren Elizabeth Doyle and Brennan Joseph Doyle of New Canaan, CT, son-in-law Jack Weaver and grandchildren William Lee Weaver and Jessica Ann Wallis Weaver of Granville, OH, stepson Doug Wiedenmann, wife Jeannette, grandsons William Janey, Daniel Douglas and Michael Gideon of Statham,GA, stepson Chris Wiedenmann and wife Teresa Dell, grandchildren Christopher Blaine Wiedenmann and Alexandria Brenna Wiedenmann of Edmond, OK. He is also survived by family members in Mississippi, California and Oklahoma. His "Celebration of Life" will be held on Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009, 11:00 a.m. at Allen Family Funeral Options in Plano, Texas. In honor of his memory, donations may be made to Operation Kindness.