Willis Ranney, Jr.

Willis Ranney, Jr., 79, a resident of Sedona died February 21. He was born March 27, 1926 in San Antonio, Texas to Willis Ranney, Sr. and Magdalen Ulmen Ranney. Willis grew up in Texas, California and New York. He served his country during World War II in the Army Air Corps and during the Korean War in the Air Force. He was a graduate of Hotchkiss Preparatory High School in Connecticut and went on to receive a Bachelors of Arts in Economics at Yale University. He retired from McDonald\u0027s Corporation where he worked in marketing. He previously had worked for Foote, Cone \u0026 Belding and also N.W. Ayer where he worked in advertising. He also worked for United Airlines in public relations. After retiring, he went overseas with the International Executive Service Corps where he volunteered assistance to businesses in Bulgaria, Egypt, Slovakia and Panama. Mr. Ranney was a member of Christ Church in Winnetka, Illinois and St. Chrysostum\u0027s in Chicago, Illinois where he served as an usher and as a member of the Vestry. He had a longtime involvement with the Lawrence Hall School for Boys and served on their Board of Directors. His interests included investments and he was a member of an investment club, was a docent for the National Park Service and enjoyed astronomy, hiking, swimming and travel. He was a longtime member of Chicago\u0027s Saddle \u0026 Cycle Club. He leaves his wife of 17 years, Judith Ann Comb Ranney; two sons by his first wife of 20 years Ana Maria Pellecer, George Charles Ranney and his wife Barbara of Newport Beach, California and Willis Ranney III and his wife Ros of Wildwood, Missouri and three grandchildren, Brighton, David and Alex Ranney, all of Wildwood, Missouri; two nieces Diana Suarez Phillips and Mia Suarez O\u0027Brien; step-daughter Susan Oswald by his second wife of seven years Betty Ranney. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 11 in the Westcott Funeral Home in Cottonwood at 2 PM. Father David Kelash will officiate. Donations in his memory may be made to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. An online guestbook is available at www.westcottfuneralhome.com