Raymond Lloyd Williams, born February 20, 1928 in Smackover, Arkansas to Earle Williams and Beulah Nethery. He passed away on November 9, 2017 in Houston, Texas. Ray met his wife, Billie Louise Reams in Crane, Texas and married October 16, 1953. They lived in Crane, San Tome, Venezuela and then moved to Houston. Ray picked cotton as a boy, his dad was a share cropper and oilfield worker. He moved around a lot, and was very poor. For a period of time, he lived in a tent in oilfield tent cities. As a teenager, he got a job with the Gulf Company in Kilgore, Tx. While there, he got called into the service during WWII. He served in the army, stationed in Japan. He was later discharged and went back to work for Gulf. Gulf moved him around to West, Tx and down to Venezuela. Uncle Sam called again, and again Ray answered, this time in the Air Force during the Korean War. After being discharged, he went back to work for Gulf in Venezuela. On a vacation to the States, in West, Texas, he met Billie Reams in Crane. They fell in love, got married, moved their new lives to Venezuela and had some boys. He became a pretty good industrial compressor mechanic and a better business owner. After 15 years with Gulf, they moved back to the US to start a Compressor Service Company in Pasadena, Texas, Coastal Maintenance Inc. Raymond and Billie attended The Church of Christ when returning to the States. First at Sun Valley then at Watters Rd Church of Christ. Pop was very successful and retired at an early age. This afforded him the time to help raise 6 grandkids. At times, Pop was a human jungle gym. Retirement and grandparenting sort of agreed with Billie and Raymond. They soon became professional RV’ers. In the RV group Pop was the minister. They traveled all around the US including Alaska, Mexico and parts of Canada. Larry and I want to say thank you to wives, family and friends who have been by our side as we have cared for our dad. We are thankful to all for your thoughts and prayers, and encouragement. Thanks to Memorial Hermann Hospice, Teresa and her staff. We want to thank Olga Escamilla who came into our lives and cared for dad with love and compassion. She has become part of our family. Dad loved and trusted her. She is an angel. We are so blessed to have her in our lives. There is not enough time today to accurately describe Raymond Williams, who we called Pop in his later years. The message I would share with you that stands out most to me is his love for his family and his work. He is only one of a few men that I’ve ever known to be blessed to love what he did for a living. He came from meager beginnings during a very hard time. Often living in tents on the side of the road as they traveled around from one work place to another. They were uptown when they moved into a wood building with a dirt floor. He knew that if he wanted a better life it would be up to him to see it happen. He found a mentor (Archie Powell) early in life who helped him along the way. His determination and drive to have a better life for himself and his family led to his success as a businessman. He was self-educated and loved to read. He and Donny’s wife, Cindy, would always share books. His penchant for hard work earned him respect from peers and employers alike, and he was well liked by all. He retired at an early age, to his wife Billie’s dismay. She begged their son Larry to find some work for him to do to get him out of the house and back on the job. Raymond lived his life as an example to all of us; that no matter who you are or what is going on in your life, you and only you, can choose how to handle it. You can quit, give up and accept your lot in life, or you can choose to change your stars and make a better life for yourself and ultimately, your family. With God’s help, all things are possible. Raymond Lloyd Williams best exemplified this philosophy. He lived it every day. His life taught us that we can overcome our circumstances. We love you pop. God bless you, and God bless us all. He was preceded in death by his wife, Billie Williams and son, David Williams. He is survived by his two sons, Donny Williams and wife Cindy, Larry Williams and his wife Jill and his honorary daughter Olga Escamilla. Six grandchildren Ben, Bryan, Travis, Christy, Laura and Ashley. And three great grandchildren Carson, Evan and Lilly. Visitation will be Thursday, November 16, 2017 from 4PM to 8PM at Grand View Funeral Home. Funeral Services will be Friday, November 17, 2017 at 12:30PM at Grand View Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Grand View Memorial Park.
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
v.1.9.5