Mary Elizabeth (Miller) Williams

Mary Elizabeth Miller Williams passed to her heavenly home on April 8, 2021, ten days after her 94th earthly birthday.  She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend, who passed peacefully at home following a courageous struggle with cancer.  Mary was born in Waukegan, Illinois, to Frank Allen Miller and Margaret Virginia Bell Miller on March 29, 1927.   She promptly came to Texas in 1931 after her father transferred to Waco when the V.A. Hospital opened here.  He was a Spanish American War veteran who later served as a chef in both the Chicago and Waco Veterans hospitals, and he passed down his cooking skills to Mary.  She loved to cook—especially cinnamon rolls, pies, and fancy decorated cakes for her beloved grandkids.

Left to cherish their memories is her husband Albert Joe Williams, of Woodway.  They skipped town as teenagers to marry in Hillsboro, Texas, and fooled the skeptics by celebrating their 77th wedding anniversary on September 11, 2020.  Mary and Joe were active in their church, but found time to travel, as long as flying in an airplane wasn’t involved.  They, accompanied by their children and friends, visited and vacationed in states and shopping malls, too numerous to list here.

She is also survived by a son, Joe Ed Williams, and his wife Mayme, of Robinson, and daughters Mary Ann Lathern and her husband Jay, of Woodway, Patricia Hodge and her husband, Terry, of Nacogdoches, Debbie Rogers, and her husband, Bailey, of Woodway. Mary was preceded in death by a daughter, Ruth Elaine Williams, a grandson Adam Bowman, and a multitude of long-time friends.  Mary’s surviving grandchildren are Robyn Hensel, and her husband Marcus, of Lindsborg, Kansas, Holly Bush, and her husband Michael, of Bangs, Texas, Matthew Lathern of Houston, Amy Bowman of Arlington, Alyson Scott and her husband, Adam, of Bullard, Texas, Erin Mosier and her husband Matt, of Norman, Oklahoma, Kaci Kimbrough, and her husband Jeremy, of Houston, Ryan Rogers of Waco, Seth Rogers and wife Katherine, of Fort Worth, and her beloved poodle TaTa. She was blessed with fourteen great grandchildren and a dear friend, Dr. Sue Stanko of Hewitt.

In addition to her love for cooking, Mary enjoyed music, jazz and dance.  She played violin at South Third Baptist Church in Waco and was the long-time organist at Downsville Baptist Church, where her and Joe are members.   Lakeview Baptist Church in Belton honored her for serving as their organist for 25 years.

Mary will be greatly missed. She had a way of making anyone who visited their home feel welcomed and loved.  Her friends are cordially invited to a time of visitation from five until seven on the evening of Monday, April 12, and a celebration service, led by Rev. Terry Hodge, at ten in the morning on Tuesday, April 13.  Both will be at Grace Gardens Funeral Home, 8220 Woodway Drive.  Burial will be at Waco Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to Downsville Baptist Church, 9371 South University Parks Drive, Waco TX  76706, or Mission Waco, 1315 North 15th Street, Waco TX  76707.

Registry for Mary Williams