Earl "Stan" Stanley Williamson

Earl Stanley “Stan” Williamson was born in Boulder, CO, to Harry Williamson and Dottie May Turner Williamson of Minneola, KS. They were in Boulder while Harry was going to CU to get his bachelor’s degree. He was a grade school principal in Minneola. The family was to go back to Boulder for several more summers before Harry got his degree.

After a long battle with multiple medical problems, Stan breathed his last breath at 5:00 A.M., Sunday, October 7, 2018. Family members had gathered in the days prior, saying their goodbyes and expressing their love. We played his favorite Johnny Cash Gospel C.D. and that seemed to comfort him too. I was glad he was home with us, so I could hold his hand and tell him how very much I loved him. He had suffered way too long and was now at peace.

Stan and I met when I was 15 and he was 17. We dated through high school at what is now Greeley Central H.S. He graduated in 1949, and I graduated in 1951. We married on October 28, 1951 and came pretty close to celebrating our 67th Anniversary this month.

Stan joined the Navy, during the Korean Conflict, in December of 1950. He served for four years on the U.S.S. Frybarger, a destroyer – escort, and was involved in many landings on the Korean mainland. He was a Gunner’s Mate second class when he was discharged in 1954.

We returned to Greeley to settle into civilian life. He went to work for my Dad, Cliff Currey, at Cook’s Drug in downtown Greeley. In 1957 Stan was transferred to a sister store, Skaggs Drugs, in Cheyenne, WY, and we lived there for the next five years. Our first three children were all born there. Back to Greeley we came where he worked again at Cooks. Our last child was born in Greeley.

In 1968 Stan was hired by Mr. King with an offer to start a new division and concept for the King Soopers Grocery store chain. With Stan’s experience in merchandising, he brought non-food items into a new King Soopers store in Colorado Springs, so we lived there for only a year. The new concept was a success and set the tone for all the King Soopers to follow.

In 1988 Stan and I opened our own business, Will/Way Distributing. We sold bag-in-a box juices for schools, hospitals, restaurants and bars. It became very successful, but was also more than the two of us could handle. We sold it in 1996 and Stan “retired” for one year.

His next and last job was with Ehrlich’s Nissan where he would shuttle people to work or home when they brought their vehicles in for service. He loved that job. He would have a captive audience to tell about the history of Greeley! He retired again in 2010 on his 80th birthday.

Stan sang in the Greeley Chorale for 28 years and we were fortunate to have made 5 overseas trips as the Chorale sang around the world. We enjoyed Australia, New Zealand, China, England, Scotland, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, France, Switzerland and Italy.

A group of Stan’s high school classmates, from the class of 1949, still meet for breakfast once a month. Since he was not able to drive the last 2 years, one of his sons, or daughters-in-law, or grandchildren would make sure that he would be there. He was sad when he could not make it to the last two.

One of his proudest and most enjoyable moments was going on the Honor Flight to Washington D.C. on September 11, 2011. To make it even more special, his two sons, Donn and Dave went on the flight as guardians.

Stan will be remembered by all who knew him, or even complete strangers, for his stories. He could and would talk to anyone who would listen about his growing up years, his service in the Navy, his fishing trips, and how proud he was of his family and King Soopers!

We will always remember these stories and bring them up from time to time, when we are all together, and have a good laugh or shed a tear or two.

Stan is missed by me, Janet Williamson; our daughters, Perri (Keith) Baxter of Savannah, GA, Penni (Randy) Geist of Greeley; our sons, Donn (Heather) Williamson of Loveland, Dave (Sherry) Williamson of Greeley; our grandchildren, Lindsey (Matt) Knutson of Greeley, Adam Williamson of Westminster, Daniel (CeCe) Shepherd of Greeley, Aronn (Holly) Williamson of Johnstown, Levi (Lauren) Shepherd of Brighton, Micah (Stephanie) Williamson of Evans, Brianne (Grant) Yount of Greeley, Alyssa (Jeffrey) Wheeler of Savannah, GA, Nicholas (Kaitlyn) Baxter of Savannah, GA, Arianna Baxter of Savannah, GA, Shekinah Geist of Greeley and Alli Williamson of Loveland. As well as our great-grandchildren, Natalia, Nicolas, Marshall, MaudieJean, Morgan Zoe, Geist, Lucas, Thomas, Jacob and Aria.

Stan was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, John Arthur Williamson, sister Ruth Harriet Straight, and brother Keith Allen Williamson.

A heartfelt thanks to all the Home Care nurses, the TRU Hospice caregivers, the young women who cared for him at the Urology Clinic and at the Wound Care Unit at NCMC. And, a very special thank you to Dr. Gary Rath, Stan’s cardiologist at NCMC.

Interment for Stan will be held at 1:15 P.M. on Tuesday, October 16, 2018 at Fort Logan National Cemetery. Services will be held at 11:00 A.M., Tuesday, October 30, 2018 at First United Methodist Church, 917 10th Avenue, Greeley, CO.

Memorial contributions may be made to TRU Hospice in care of Allnutt Funeral Service, 702 13th Street, Greeley, CO 80631. Please visit www.allnuttgreeley.com to send condolences to the family.