Edward Clark Willis

Edward Clark Willis of Queenstown, MD, passed on Saturday, March 31, 2018, at Compass Regional Hospice in Chestertown from congestive heart failure complicated with pneumonia. He was 79. Born on April 3, 1938, in Maryland, he was the son of the late William Dorsey and Adeline Hayden Willis. He graduated from Centreville High School, Class of 1956. A few years after graduation, he married Martha “Marty” Shawn, and they moved to Florida in 1961. Their daughter, Rayne, was born later that year. In Florida, Mr. Willis started as a sailing instructor, then went on to become a cruising captain sailing in the Bahamas on his own sailboat that he and Marty eventually lived on with their daughter. In 1968, he relocated to Wilmington, NC, where his love of the water and engineering led him to build his own marine construction business. In 1979, he moved to Manteo, NC, with a new business, designing and installing hydraulic systems on fishing trawlers. Mr. Willis moved back to Maryland in the late 1980s to Marty’s family farm, Bloomingdale (circa 1685), where he managed the farm and did extensive restoration work on the historic home. Mr. Willis believed in lifelong learning. He obtained his pilot’s license which enabled him travel to various ports with his hydraulics business. He and Marty also flew for pleasure, taking many trips around the country. With his prowess for engineering, Mr. Willis continually dabbled in inventing and finding new ways to do things in all areas of his life. He dreamed of an organic farming system that was self-sustaining on Bloomingdale Farm. He is best remembered as being a “mentor.” He inspired and encouraged everyone in his world to embrace lifelong learning through education, reading, research, and “hands on” experiences. Through his enduring “one on one” lessons and his generosity, he helped many people. In addition to his wife, Martha “Marty” Shawn Willis of Queenstown, MD, he is survived by a daughter, Rayne Lea Willis of Centreville, MD; a sister, Susan Willis Johnson of Chincoteague, VA; and a granddaughter, Adeline Marian Perry. He was predeceased by a brother, William Willis. A celebration of life will be held at Bloomingdale Farm on a later date for close friends and family due to Marty’s delicate medical condition. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation or cards can be mailed to 122 Willis Road, Centreville, MD.

Edward Clark Willis

April 3, 1938 - March 31, 2018