Spencer Peter Williams

Spencer Williams, beloved father, uncle, and brother suddenly passed away on January 30, 2021. A memorial service will be 1:00 p.m. Friday, February 12, 2021 at the First Baptist Church, Oglesby, Texas with inurnment in Post Oak Cemetery, Oglesby, Texas. Social distancing and masks are required.

Spencer was born in San Antonio, Texas on September 23, 1969. He grew up in Oglesby, Texas where he played football, basketball, baseball, and ran track. He was a big part of a small town, always known for helping out neighbors and friends. As a boy, he enjoyed fishing, Dungeons and Dragons, board and video games, collecting comic books, reading sci-fi and fantasy, and riding back roads with his friends. He carried many of these hobbies into adulthood, including a lifelong love of reading.

Spencer was accepted to Baylor University where he studied Psychology. After the death of his father, his heart was elsewhere and he enlisted in the US Marine Corps in 1992. He received his recruit training at MCRD San Diego and trained as an infantryman at Camp Pendleton. He was then assigned to Alpha Company 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines at Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. His Battalion was nicknamed “The Lava Dogs” from training in the lava fields on the Big Island of Hawaii. While stationed at Kaneohe Bay he deployed aboard naval vessels and farther out in the Pacific training on Okinawa, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Thailand. Discharged as a Corporal, in 1996, Spencer was awarded the Navy Achievement Medal for superior performance of duty, the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with Star. Spencer was very proud of his Marine Corps service. His Marine comrades, many of whom remained his friends long after his service, fondly remember him.

While Spencer was in Hawaii, he began a long-distance relationship with Lesley Kelley after being reacquainted on a visit home. After several trips, hundreds of letters, and thousands of dollars in phone bills they married in 1995. When he was honorably discharged, from the Marines, he returned to College Station, Texas to be with her. Spence took a job landscaping and, as it turned out; he had a talent for it and it would be something he always enjoyed.

Spencer was a family man. He adored his nieces and nephews and on any given weekend, you would find at least a couple of them in College Station, thrilled that they would get to hang out with the cool aunt and uncle. In 2002, Spencer and Lesley moved to McGregor, where he went to work for McLennan County, and they had their boys.

Being an uncle was one of Spencer’s favorite things, but fatherhood turned out to be the best job he ever had. Logan and Luke were the most important thing in his life and he would immediately light up any time he talked about them. If you ever ran into Spencer, at Cefco, you would most likely be accosted with the latest video of Logan playing football or running track, or tales of Luke’s academic prowess and how many colleges were after him. Even after Spencer and Lesley divorced, and she remarried, he embraced the new modern family and loved spending time with his sons in Georgetown.

Spencer was a good man who overcame a lot and managed to put his hard times behind him. Many people have shared how incredibly happy he was this last year and he was thrilled to be close to his boys, family, and many friends and was living life on his own terms. He was great with his hands and always seemed to have a clever side project and was always happy to help anyone he could. Spence enjoyed good food and was always on the lookout for the next great meal, in spite of always being trapped into going to Popeye’s or Chik-fil-A, by his boys. He enjoyed getting back to church, the many football road trips with Robert, lunches with Connie, rides with Donnie, and all the friends that filled his days.

Spencer leaves behind a great community in Oglesby. They embraced him and he fiercely loved them. He will be missed by the Marine Corps brothers he leaves behind. Most importantly, he leaves the legacy of a loving family, sons, Luke and Logan Williams; ex-wife, Lesley Newburn; sister, Sylvia Graves and husband, Pat, of San Angelo; brothers, Charles Williams and wife, Melissa, of Indiana, Robert Williams of Waco. He was adored by his nieces and nephews, Teranee and Larry Smith, Tarissa and Tyson Klander, CJ and Samantha Luckey, Rachel Graves, Andrew and Alyssa Williams, Blythe Williams, Chaz Williams, Halle and Blake Reames; great nieces Olivia, Harper, Nora, and Lena. Spencer was preceded in death by parents, Charles and Jutta Williams; sister-in-law, Karon Williams; and niece, Devon Williams.

Spencer was taken too soon, a big heart that gave out before it should. He would remind us that life is short and fragile, so call someone you love today particularly if you haven’t talked in a while. Please hold your favorite memory of Spencer close and share it with others, especially with his boys, maybe through a video, a note, or a message. As we let Spencer go, he can rest well knowing that even if he is gone, this great big family that he loved and loved him back will be here for his sons as they go on to their next great things.

The family would like to say a special thank you to all friends who have been so kind and supportive during this difficult time.

I lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Oglesby Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 6, Oglesby, Texas 76561.