CORNELIA Ann (Robinson) WILLITS
Marriages
Lee R. Willits - February 25, 1874
Burial Details
Obituaries
Eagle Valley Enterprise page 1 - March 12, 1937
Early Settler of Eagle County Passes Away
Mrs. Lee R. Willits Answers Death Summons March 3 - had been a Prominent Resident of County for over Fifty Years
Death has claimed another of the pioneer women whose life had much to do with the claiming of this country from the Indians and who were the mainstay of their husbands in building of this one-time mountain wilderness a paradise for human habitation, when Mrs. Lee R. Willits died at the home of her son, Bramlet R. Willits near Basalt March 3.
Cornelia Ann Robinson was born at New Boston, ill. February 1, 1850, being past 87 years of age when Father Time called her from her duties on earth. The end came most peacefully. Her chldren had seen her to bed in her usual good health, but when morning came she was lying cold in death; from all appearanches the end having come without a struggle while she peacefully slumbered.
February 25, 1874 the deceased was married to Lee R. Willits, he having passed away in July 1916. Shortly after their marriage, the spirit of pioneers of which each was possessed prompted the couple to move farther west., following the country's frontiers. A short while was spent in Kansas, and then they moved on into Texas, stopping in Montague county. In 1887, they again moved on, traveling in a covered wagon. When they reached the Roaring Fork valley, they decided they had found the home of their dreams, and here they settled in Eagle county, and for fifty years Mrs. Willits has made that community her home; sharing with her husband the trials and hardships of carving a home from the rugged mountain valley, and at the same time raising and caring for her family of _ children. Her husband was for many years very prominent in all of the affairs of the county, but more particularly in politics. During his prime he was one of the strongest leaders of the Democratic party that organization has ever had in the county. At the time of his death he was county commissioner, a position he held for many years.
Mrs. Willits is survived by three daughters, Mrs. W. J. Shanks, Alturas, Calif.; Mrs. O.W. Randall, Eagle, Colo.; Mrs. Marcia Mitchell, Hanford, Calif.; one son, B.R. Willits, Basalt, Colo.; and nine grandchildren and one great grand child.
Mrs. Willits was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, a charter member of Sorosis Literary Society, pioneer woman's club of this section.
Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon at Basalt, Rev. John _ Ketchum, pastor of the Methodist church of Glenwood Springs delivering the funeral discourse and the services were in charge of the Rebekah lodge of Basalt. The body was laid to rest in the Basalt cemetery beside that of her beloved husband.
