James Haney (Jay) Williams

James Haney (Jay) Williams passed away on April 21, 2011 in Midland, Texas. He was born December 13, 1926 in Montague County, Bowie, Texas to James Taylor Williams and Lora Lyons Williams. Jay was serving in the U. S. Merchant Marines, stationed out of Seattle, Washington when he met Virginia F. Christensen of Dunn Center, ND. They were married July 6, 1946 in Seattle. Upon leaving the Merchant Marines, Jay and Virginia moved to Texas to start a new career and a family. Virginia passed away February 23, 2002. On September 25, 2005 he married Mary E. Moore of Midland, TX. Jay was welcomed into Mary’s family and we are grateful for the six happy years they had together. Jay worked as a Construction Superintendent for R.G. Farrell & Co., Area Builders, Inc., HBF Construction, and Dave Leonard Construction. Jay was responsible for many commercial construction projects in Midland, Odessa, Lubbock, Snyder, San Angelo, Paris, TX and Durham, NC. He retired from the construction industry in 1990 at the age of 64. Not one to be idle, Jay began driving a school bus for MISD. He retired from MISD Transportation in 2009 after 19 years of service. He began his last career as a School Crossing Guard for Fannin Elementary in 2010. Jay had a very strong work ethic; always the conscientious employee, he performed his school crossing guard duties the morning of his passing. Jay was a member of Valley View Baptist Church and Woodmen of the World. Jay was preceded in death by his parents, Virginia his wife of 55 years, brothers Arvin Williams, Cecil Williams, sisters Wanda Williams, Margie Mobley, and Cassie Smith. He is survived by his wife Mary Williams, daughters Dianne Parsons of Midland, TX, Dixie Smith of Bedford, TX, Denise Thrift and Dennis of Midland, TX, grandchildren Jay Parsons and Viki of Austin, TX, Jeff Thrift of Allen, TX, Kimberly Fout and Jeremy of Ft. Worth, TX, Kelly Malin and Matt of Louisville, KY. Great-grandchildren Nate and Drew Fout, Benjamin Parsons, Hazel Malin. Sisters Fern Thurston of Midland, Tx, Juanita and Larry Williams of Kerrville, Tx, Jean Goodall and Wayne of Cortez, CO, numerous nieces and nephews, stepsons Jerry Moore and Lupe of Midland, TX, Don Moore and Ellen of Midland, TX, Jesse Moore of Midland, TX, and stepdaughter Kathy Cooper and Daniel of Midland, TX., six step-grandchildren, and six step-great-grandchildren. The family will receive friends on Monday, April 25, from 6:00-8:00pm at Ellis Funeral Home. Funeral service to be held at 11:00 A.M, Tuesday, April 26, 2011 at Ellis Funeral Home Chapel. Condolences may be left at: www.ellisfunerals.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Ellis Funeral Home.