Anna Noel (Devanney) Williams

Anna Noel Devanney Williams, a devoted Christian, loving wife, mother, grandmother, and friend passed away on January 21, 2022. Anna Noel was born to J. Tom and Thelma Jones Devanney on December 27, 1933, in Elk City, Oklahoma.

Upon graduation from The Hockaday School of Dallas, Anna Noel attended the University of Oklahoma, where she was a proud member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. She met the love her life, Gordon D. Williams, a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, through mutual friends their freshman year. They were married shortly thereafter.

Gordon’s work took them from New York to Amarillo, Albuquerque, Oklahoma City, Palm Springs, Pasadena, and San Francisco. Lifelong friends were made at every stop.

From her early days as a camper at Camp Waldemar, Anna Noel enjoyed traveling. She and Gordon spent countless summers fly fishing at the 4UR Ranch in Wagon Wheel Gap, Colorado. Upon Gordon’s retirement, they spent many winters in Newport Beach, California, which became a second home to them.

Anna Noel loved to entertain and was a fabulous cook. She had a sharp mind playing bridge and her green thumb was the envy of many. She had many wonderful friends, too countless to name. She was a lifelong member of the Junior League, beginning in Amarillo and ending in Oklahoma City.

Anna Noel is preceded by her beloved husband, Gordon D. and her parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. Tom Devanney. She is survived by her two sons Gordon D. Williams III (Gena), J. Tom Williams (Jill), her daughter, Jane Stanford (Kent) and granddaughter, Anna Noel Mueller.

Anna Noel was a life-long Christian whose faith gave her a steady hand and outlook on life. Her counsel to her children was rooted in this faith, knowing that God was our ultimate Father, and Jesus Christ our friend and only Savior. We marveled at her deep prayer that we witnessed at All Souls Episcopal Church.

The family would like to give thanks to Anna Noel’s wonderful caregivers, Bhing, Rose, and Paula.

We give thanks to God for Anna Noel; our family was enormously blessed to have her in our lives. To us, she was the best mom and grandmother ever!

A memorial service will be held at the Chapel of St. Mary at All Souls Episcopal Church on Thursday, January 27, 2022, at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to All Souls Episcopal Church.