Jackie D. Willis

Funeral service for Jackie D. Willis will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 2, 2026, at Snyder High School Gymnasium. Guests are asked to wear OU apparel. 
Burial with military honors will follow in Mountain Park Cemetery, Mountain Park, Oklahoma under direction of Becker-Rabon Funeral Home of Snyder.
The service may be viewed by following the link at www.beckerfuneral.com or by visiting the Becker-Rabon Funeral Home Facebook page.
Visitation will be Friday from 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. Family will greet guests from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. at the funeral home in Snyder.
Jackie D. Willis, 77, of Snyder, passed away on April 23, 2026, one day shy of his 78th birthday.
Jackie was born on April 24, 1948, in Hobart, to Bennie LeRoy and Verla Elizabeth (Woodward) Willis. He was raised on the family farm, graduated from Mountain Park High School, attended Cameron College, then served in the United States Army. 
After returning home, Jack’s brother, Don, introduced him to gold and silver coins, which led to Jackie opening coin shops in Denver, Colorado. Later, Don and Jackie eased into the oil and gas business, which allowed Jackie to return to the Snyder area to assist his mother, Verla. Jackie’s heart always belonged to Snyder and Mountain Park. They were more than hometowns - they were part of who he was. He loved their people, their stories, and their spirit, and he carried that pride with him everywhere he went.
One of Jackie’s great loves was the University of Oklahoma. Few things brought him more joy than cheering on the Sooners in every sport, following OU with unwavering devotion and sharing that passion with friends and family. Saturdays in the fall were sacred; crimson and cream ran deep, and no one who knew Jackie had to wonder where he stood when “Boomer Sooner” rang out. 
Jackie loved his cattle too — especially his longhorns, each one named. He was always trying to pet them, even when they occasionally sent him scrambling.
But while Jackie loved the Sooners and the places that shaped him, his true love came later in life when he found his wife, Aira. He often joked it took him too long to find her, but those who knew them saw a love worth waiting for. Aira was his joy and one of life’s great blessings. Together they built a life marked by laughter and adventure.
And then there was Janayah — the light of his life. She brought Jackie immeasurable pride, joy, and purpose, and nothing made him smile more than being with her. He adored her completely and was endlessly proud of the bright, beautiful little girl she was and all she was becoming. He delighted in her every accomplishment, treasured every moment they shared, and spoke of her with a love that was unmistakable. Being her father was one of the greatest blessings of his life.
Jackie also had a deep love of travel and discovery. He embraced seeing the world, whether setting out for distant places or simply enjoying the journey itself. He loved the people he met, the stories he gathered, and the memories made along the way. Travel was one of the many ways he celebrated life fully.
Jackie will be remembered as an entrepreneur and rancher, but more importantly, for his humor, generosity, and big-hearted enthusiasm for the people and things he loved, but also for something harder to capture — his spirit. He was one of the most positive people you could ever meet, someone who made people feel better simply by being around him. He had a rare gift for making others laugh, often when they least expected it; with Jackie, you truly never knew what he might say or do next to lighten the room. He was the life of the party, a natural storyteller, and someone who made people feel seen, welcomed, and valued. He lived with passion and left a lasting imprint on those fortunate enough to know him. 
He is survived by his beloved wife, Aira; his cherished Janayah; his many nieces and nephews, and his godson Edmund Coccagna. 
He was preceded in death by his parents, older brothers, Jimmy Keith and Donald Wayne, and his baby sister, Kathy Jane. 
Though we wish we had been given more time, Jackie left this world having lived a life rich in friendship, laughter, love, and adventure. He was one of a kind — the kind of person for whom it can honestly be said: they broke the mold.
He will be deeply missed and forever remembered. Boomer Sooner.
An online guest book and sympathy cards are available at www.beckerfuneral.com