Clarence “Red” Lee Williams was born on June 8, 1938 in Bald Prairie, TX to Willie E. Williams and Mildred VanNatta. He was the 5th of 6 children. At age 18 he joined the Untied States Air Force and was stationed at Portland International Airport, in Portland, Oregon. In 1957 he married the love of his life Jo Ann Linkhart and she joined him in Oregon.
They moved back to Texas when he completed his service in 1959, where he made a career in the Sheet Metal Industry and was a lifelong member of the Sheet Metal Union, Local 54. He enjoyed having a cold beer with his friends, listening to old country music, and raising livestock. Some of his favorite past times include watching old game shows and reading/sharing the daily newspaper. His favorite newspaper section was the funnies and couldn’t wait to see what the Hocus Pocus (or Hokey Pokey as he called it) had to offer each week. He spent many a fall hunting and also enjoyed fishing every once in a while.
Red was always making jokes and had a nickname for everyone he loved and nothing was ever called by its rightful name. Family was the most important thing in the world to him and he would do anything to make us smile and keep us happy. His favorite thing to say was that “momma” had his heart so he didn’t have one.
He was preceded in death by his father Willie E. Williams, mother Mildred Craig, sister Doris Konviska, Nora Sparks, brother Harvey Williams, son Carl Williams, son-in-law Randy Lorance, son-in-law Leslie Smith. He is survived by his loving bride Jo Ann Williams, daughter Donna Smith, daughter Catherine Lorance, daughter Pamela Lowry, daughter-in-law Tamera Williams, 9 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, sister Dorothy Grossman, brother James Williams and many nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers we kindly request that you please make a donation in Clarence's name to St. Jude, SMA Foundation, or The Wounded Warrior Project. Thank you.
