Michael Lee Williams

Michael (“Mickey”) passed into the Lord’s arms on January 29, 2024 in Norman, Oklahoma. He was born on February 16, 1943 in Lawton, Oklahoma to George & Blanche Williams. He was the oldest of four boys and grew up in Wilburton, OK.

He was a gifted football and track athlete. His Senior year in high school (1961) he and his three teammates won the State Championship in Track for their class. Individually he won the 440 yd dash. He earned a full scholarship to the University of Oklahoma to run track. After college, he played Semi-Pro football for both the Oklahoma City Plainsmen and the Oklahoma City Wranglers. He was also a part-owner and coach of the Wranglers. He was invited by the Dallas Cowboys to attend their tryouts in Thousand Oaks, California but was not able to attend because of basic training requirements of the Army Reserve. He was also in the National Guard. In 1974 he contacted many Parks & Recreation divisions of many cities throughout the country to get a copy of their flag football rules. He used these to put together a master set of rules and started the National Flag Football Association (NFFL). At one point in the 1980’s there were over 35 states involved. He ran the NFFL for over 35 years. He was the Head Football Coach of Community Christian School (CCS) in Norman from 1994 to 1996. CCS was runner-up at State in 1995 and 1996. He was voted Coach of the Year in 1995. He was inducted into the Wilburton High School Sports Hall of Fame in 2016. He was baptized at Center Point Baptist Church in Wilburton, OK and at the time of his death, he was attending First Baptist Church in Norman, OK. He organized and ran many sports tournaments in Norman including flag football, basketball, golf, racquetball and pool. He owned Baskin Robbins across from Norman High School from 1971 to 1980. He also invested in real estate.

After dating for 10 years, on December 30, 1980, Mickey married Chere Danley in Norman, OK. They lived in Norman until 2006, moved to Purcell until 2023, then moved back to Norman. They had two children, Cody and Casidy.

Preceding him in death are his parents, George and Blanche Williams, sister-in-law Lea Ann Williams, brother-in-law Dondi and wife Regina Danley and brother-in-law Dennis Danley. He is survived by Chere, his son Cody; his daughter Casidy and her partner Paul Struempler and his granddaughter Mira Struempler; his brother Ron Williams and wife Amy and their children Shea and husband Sam Tippens, Shannon Ho, Kyle and wife Amanda Jones and Brady Williams; his brother Bob Williams and wife Patti and their children Andrea and husband Scott Chaffin, Kristen and husband Derek Rosenberg; his brother Steve Williams and his children Lauren and husband Mike Weatherholt and Jordan and her husband Matt Barton; his brother-in-law Steve and wife Debbie Danley and their children Mary and Erica; his brother-in-law Jeff and wife Linda and their children Brendan, Jacob, and Kait; brother-in-law Dennis Danley’s children Becky and Amy; brother-in-law Dondi’s daughter Miriam,; and many nieces, nephews and friends.

A Celebration of Life will be held at First Baptist Church, Norman, OK on Friday, April 12th at 1pm.