Felicia Ann Williams was born on July 1, 1960, in Purcell, OK to Barbara and Jimmy Phillips. She attended school from 1965 – 1978 in Purcell, Wayne, Paoli, and Wynnewood where she graduated high school in 1978. Felicia participated in track, basketball, and cheerleading while attending her two high schools. She also worked on the yearbook, but her love was math and history.
Felicia was raised by a single mom from 5-15 years of age. She met her stepdad, Jim Wright, who portrayed the perfect male parent and had the same kindness and love that she would later find in her husband Bruce.
She was baptized at age 14 in a southern Baptist church in Paoli and considered herself an “uneducated Christian” but believed in God, love, kindness and being happy in life no matter what lesson is thrown at you. She loved God’s sense of humor and looking for His beauty daily.
College came years after high school, where she started at age 37 and discovered she loved it. She started in computer science but switched after two years to education and focused on middle school. She went on to be a Middle School Science teacher which she considered to be a fluke, but it was a career that she adored as much as the kids. She loved that age of kids due to their lippiness but more for their questions, enthusiasm, and thought process. She adopted the philosophy of, “I may not know…but let’s research and find out.” She believed that learning something new every day is the most important thing you can do with your mind. She loved her students…she counted them and over her years she taught 3,904 students in her 24.5 years in three different states. In the middle of her career, she was an instructional coach in Science for 24-30 teachers which sometimes could be hard, but she loved each and every one. Those teachers were her pride and joy; they were hard working people who changed the lives of children.
Teaching was in her bones, so she returned to the classroom for the last five years of her career…she just missed the kids too much! She said, “Know your place! And mine is in the classroom!”
Felicia married Bruce on Aug 25, 2001, and he was her best friend ever since in their happy life together. The two “grands” were her world. She loved how their personalities and minds worked. She would spend hours singing and pushing them in the swing outside in the summertime. She loved to bake goodies with them.
Felicia is survived by her husband Bruce Williams, son Zachary Chandler and wife Misty, stepsons Tyler Williams and Samuel Williams and wife Linda; grandchildren Hadley Jade Chandler and Isaiah Joseph Dela Pasion; siblings Jimmy Phillips, Jackie Stevenson, Susan Kirby, Dannie Phillips, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Felicia is preceded in death by her parents Jim and Barbara Wright, her sister, Tiffany Monique (Phillips) White, brother Keith Phillips, and her son Caleb Suttee.
A Celebration of Life Service will be 1:00 p.m. Monday, July 22, 2024 at McGilley State Line Chapel, 12301 State Line Road, Kansas City, MO 64145 with lunch for all family and guests immediately following at the Chapel.
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
v.1.11.2