RICK WILLIS

Rick Willis, aka Strayhorn Spadewater, a stallion of a man, born June 6, 1948, passed away September 19, 2022. Las Vegas Advertising and Marketing Executive, Rick made many of the most entertaining commercials the valley ever had the pleasure of enjoying - Prozac not included -- No one ever changed the channel when Rick's commercials were on. A man of many passions: Photography; Fly Fishing, and Radio Host of Trout Talk, with his beloved wife, Melony Willis, aka Chenille Rivers. Rick and Melony traveled throughout Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, and frankly anywhere a river was, fishing and collecting stories for their fans. True Aficionados of Life and Love, the Willises always were, surrounded with their brood of five collective children, fifteen grandchildren, and two great grandchildren, and right now one more is on its way. Son No. 1, Ricky, and Rick loved quail hunting and fishing. Son No. 2, Brent, and Rick loved camping and shooting together. Rick also loved the water, both fresh and salt. He sailed avidly with Mel and all of their children

and their families. In short, Strayhorn Spadewater made champions of all of his and Chenille's progeny, and he had

a hell of a time doing it.

In 2012 , Mr. Rick Willis wrote, hosted, and produced Ratrod TV, a reality, adult content humorous take on men whose passions were building their own homemade ratrods. Rick and Mel traveled the country producing the show. Rick evolved musically from Steely Dan to Jazz, to classical Flamenco, a true connoisseur of music, a renaissance man. He played with many Motown bands. He also played with the likes of Jimmy Hendrix, Stevie Wonder, and Willie Nelson, playing his guitar and bass, back in the 1960's. (He also swept Chenille off her feet with that guitar.) As a sportsman, Rick not only was an expert fly fisherman, but he loved and practiced tai chi for many years, as well as racquetball, hockey, archery, and trap shooting. Taking the time and effort to pass along the love and skills for these passions to his grandsons. Often leading them into achievements

of their own in these endeavors. Strayhorn designed and built two beautiful, original, and eclectic homes, one in Nye County and one in Las Vegas. He also designed and built originally crafted pieces of furniture for those homes. As if those weren't enough "hobbies" for one man, Strayhorn was a Harley Davidson enthusiast, teaching Melony to sow her own wild oats alongside him on her own trike. Off into the sunset they rode many the evening in Red Rock. Rick and Mel bred paint horses, a dream of theirs, on their property, giving all the children in not just their family, but

their extended families, horseback rides in the desert. He somehow found time to become an accomplished author of the book Hot Nymphs Dry Flies Bent Rods, in 2016, available now on Amazon, based on his travels and experiences in fly fishing from the days of fishing with son number one, Rick Jr., all the way to the day he met the famous cowboys he so admired in his youth. You'll have to read the book to believe it. In short, Rick Willis led an amazing life, fulfilled most all of his dreams, and died surrounded by those who loved and

respected him. In his last moments his hands were on his beloved Melony's face while she professed her everlasting love for him. She looked into his eyes and told him it was all right for

him to go, and he left us all to fish the Milky Way, until his Chenille is again at his side in eternity. In short Mr. Rick Willis was a legend.

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