JAMES DEREK WILLIS

1974-2021

J. Derek Willis passed away Friday the 23rd of July, 2021. Born in Houston, Texas, in 1974 to Gar Charles Willis and Judith Ann Willis, Derek graduated from Klein High School. He went on to graduate from the University of Houston with a Bachelor of Architecture in 2000. During his studies, he spent a semester in France as part of the university architectural program, which enhanced his appreciation for his profession, travel, and good food. Upon graduation, Derek moved to New York City, where he worked for Robert A. M. Stern Architecture. He moved to San Diego, California, working as an associate with Bokal and Sneed Architects of Del Mar, California. Later after returning to Houston to reside and work in Kingwood, he was a Registered Architect for Martinez and Associates.

In 2003 Derek married his high school sweetheart, Tiffany Lea Griffith, in Houston. Following their marriage, they moved to San Diego, California, where their son Brayden James Willis was born in 2010. Derek, Tiffany, and Brayden lived in California for 12 years before moving back to Texas in 2015 to reside in Kingwood. There, Derek pursued his love of biking and gathered with family and friends for grilling, food, wine, and conversation.

Derek is survived by his wife Tiffany Lea Willis; son, Brayden James Willis; his mother, Judith Ann Willis; his father, Gar Charles Willis, and stepmother, Carol Vaughan Willis; his brother, Charles Gregory Willis, and his husband, James Leonard Wilson; and stepbrother, Geoffrey Scott Vaughan. A Memorial Service will be held at the Cherie Flores Garden Pavilion, 1500 Hermann Drive, on Sunday, the 5th of September, 2021. Services will be held at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers, donations in honor of his passing can be made to the Brayden James Willis Educational Fund at Ugift529.com with U gift code: M65-S0Y (the 0 in the code is a zero) or to your favorite charity.