Willetta Mae Lawhead, 72, of De Soto, KS passed away Nov. 9, 2022. Visitation will be held 5:00 -7:00 pm Tue., Nov. 15, 2022 at De Soto Baptist Church, 8655 Copeland Way, De Soto, KS. Funeral service 11:00 am Wed., Nov. 16, 2022 also at the church. Burial follows at De Soto Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to De Soto Baptist Church or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Arrangements: Bruce Funeral Home, Gardner, KS (913) 856-7111. Condolences may be left at www.brucefuneralhome.com

Willetta was born Sept. 5, 1950 in Kansas City, MO to Wilson Everett and Willetta Mae (Willard) Smith. She grew up in Prairie Village, KS where she graduated from Shawnee Mission East in 1968. Willetta attended Emporia State Teachers College for two years. She met Charles Lawhead while square dancing in De Soto. They married on Feb. 16, 1974 in Prairie Village, KS. After marriage they made their home in De Soto. Willetta worked as a bank teller for Great Southern Bank in De Soto; retiring in 2015. She was Past Matron of Eastern Star and was a member of De Soto Baptist Church. Willetta enjoyed cross stitch and ceramics. She will be dearly missed by family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother Wilson E. Smith. Willetta is survived by her husband, Charles, of the home; children: Rachel  (Andrew) Dawson, Sedalia, MO, Aaron (Genevieve) Lawhead, Overland Park, KS and Sarah Lawhead, De Soto, KS; siblings: Wayne E. Smith, Ponca City, OK, Warren E. Smith, Prairie Village, KS and Wyndee M. Clark, Olathe, KS; nine grandchildren and one on the way.