Michael Howerton McWillie, a cherished husband, father, grandfather, and talented artist, passed away peacefully on January 10, 2025, at the age of 74 in Dallas, Texas. Born on December 26, 1950, in Dallas, Texas, Michael was the beloved son of Lewis McWillie and Wanda Juanita Howerton McWillie.
Michael's creative spirit and passion for storytelling led him to become a well-known artist and a proud member of the Screen Writers Guild. He graduated from Bryan Adams High School before pursuing higher education at the University of Texas at Austin.
Michael is most renowned for his commission from The White House to paint The First Dog, the now famous Scottish Terrier, Barney. The painting hung in First Lady Laura Bush’s office in the East Wing of The White House.
Michael’s love for animals intersected with his passion for philanthropy when the American Humane Association selected a McWillie painting for its “Adopt A Dog Month’ international campaign. The painting was reproduced on American Humane Society merchandise to raise funds to help save dogs in their time of need.
On November 2, 1989, Michael married the love of his life, Katina Kissonas, in Los Angeles, California. Together, they built a life filled with love, laughter, and treasured memories.
Michael is survived by his devoted wife, Katina McWillie of Parker, Texas; his children, Christopher McWillie Anise of Plano, Texas, Chelsea Howerton-McWillie of Providence, Rhode Island, and Sean McWillie of Los Angeles, California; grandchildren, Myles McWillie, Ella McWillie, and Oliver McWillie; and a host of numerous other loving family and friends.
Michael was preceded in death by his loving parents, Juanita Phillips and Lewis McWillie.
The family kindly requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Michael's memory to the American Humane Society.
A funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, January 22, 2025 at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home, 2525 Central Expressway North, Allen, Texas 75013. The service will also be live streamed at TJMfuneral.com on Michael’s obituary page by clicking on the following link: https://celebrationoflife.tv/blog/michael-howerton-mcwillie. Interment will be held at Ridgeview Memorial Park following the service.
The family will receive friends during a visitation on Tuesday evening from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home with a reception to follow.