Willie J. Carlson, daughter of the late Walter S. Howell and Lelia Ida Smith Howell, was born on Sept. 19, 1917, at Bernie and died in the S.S.M. Medical Center in St. Charles on Sunday, Feb. 11, 2007, at the age of 89.

Mrs. Carlson was a chief and was owner and operator of "Billie's Cafe" in Bellflower, Calif. She was a member of Harvester First Baptist Church in Harvester and a resident of St. Charles.

She was united in marriage to Loren Carlson on June 9, 1962, at Bellflower, Calif. Mr. Carlson preceded his wife in death on May 9, 1997.

Survivors include three sisters, Dorothy Botsch of Bernie, Opal Rodgers of Jackson, and Mary Davis of Dexter.

She was preceded in death other than by her parents and her husband, by three brothers, Rubert Howell, Reuben Howell and Jack Howell; four sisters, Ruth Faulkner, Gladys Smith, Wilma Adams and Virginia Smith.

Visitation will be held from 5-8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 15, 2007, at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel in Bernie.

Funeral services will be conducted at 11:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 16, 2007, at the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel in Bernie with Rev. Joe Helms officiating.

Interment will follow in the Bernie Cemetery.