Willia Lee "Willie" Wilson Fields

Willia Lee "Willie" Wilson Fields

Cedar Rapids

Our fierce, feisty and fun-loving mom has passed away far too soon on Sept 10. due to lung cancer. Born Nov 12, 1947 to Glenn and Lucile Eubanks of Marshalltown.

She graduated from Marshalltown High School in 1966 and moved to Cedar Rapids shortly after. She met Emory Wilson and they had two awesome children, Carman and Doug. Emory passed away in 1979 and she was left to raise two kids by herself being both mom and dad. Willie was extremely independent and determined. She worked several jobs as well as volunteering. She was a server for Spring House, Mimm’s and Roosevelt. She also owned several businesses over the years. She met Jeff Fields and they married in 1988. They both enjoyed riding bikes, even though Jeff preferred the bikes with a motor. They also loved going to concerts and rumor has it she has danced on a bar or two-even though there is no photo evidence, we still believe it is true. They were known for their great Halloween parties and pumpkin carving contests, and their get-togethers in their finished garage before the fire.

Our mom always knew what, how and when she wanted things done and wouldn't settle for anything less. She loved looking for new and different things to cook and bake, and especially anything with basil. All the grandkids and great-grandkids loved her famous fudge. She was also very proud of her flower gardens which attracted many birds and butterflies. She knew all the species that would come and visit. She enjoyed volunteering at the Wickiup Hill Learning Center and the National Czech & Slovak Museum and Library. She enjoyed history and learning new things and spreading the info to others about what she learned, whether they wanted to know or not. But don’t get her started on why we have Daylight Savings Time, especially if the chardonnay was flowing. She loved to travel, whether it was in Iowa to look at the fall leaves, museums, the Cayman Islands and, especially, Key West. As far as she was concerned, Key West was the only place to go in Florida.

She is survived by her husband of 34 Years Jeff Fields; daughter, Carman (Tom) Walsh of Iowa City and son Doug (Kim) Wilson of Cedar Rapids; grandkids, Keith (Crystal), Amanda (Mike), Cory, Zane and Bryn; great-grandkids, Braelyn, Deryck, Hank and Emmry; brother, Dean (Althea) Eubanks of Marshalltown; sisters, Ivy Edwards of Phoenix, Ariz., and Pat Eubanks of Illinois; and many nieces and nephews. And of course, her beloved pug, Frank. We all enjoyed and will miss her sense of humor and wit.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Glenn and Lucile Eubanks and Emory Wilson; brothers, Virgil, Robert and Gary Dale; and sisters, Avenel, Isabell, Annabel and Glenda Sue.

What our family has learned the most through all of this is to keep all of your medical appointments even though life throws things at you like a fire, pandemic or derecho. Take the trip, don’t put it off take any chance to travel and learn. And most of all, please quit smoking, especially for your loved ones that you leave behind too soon.

Celebration of life will be held at Parlor City at 1125 Third St. SE, Cedar Rapids on Sept. 17, 1 to 4 p.m. Condolences can be sent to 1507 Memorial Drive SE Cedar Rapids, IA 52403. If attending please don't wear black. Black may be classic but it is dreary, per Willie.