Mary F. Jones Williamson

Mary Jones Williamson was born June 12, 1923 in Gotebo, OK. She was the sixth child out of ten to Myrkle and Esta Jones. She grew up as a farm girl and helped take care of her brothers and sisters. She attend school at Lake Valley, where she was on the girl's basketball team. And what she lacked in height she made up for in spirit. After graduating high school she moved to Oklahoma City to become a nurse. When she became woozy at the sight of blood, she decided nursing was not for her.

Mary's roommate suggested she write to a cute G.I., little did she know it would change her life. His name was George Robert "Bob" Williamson. And when he came into town on leave she made him homemade biscuits and gravy, and he was smitten. They fell madly in love. On June 27, 1943 they became husband and wife. Soon after he was called to war. While he was fighting for our country, she stayed busy working at Tinker Field on the airplanes until he returned.

On March 16, 1951 they welcomed a baby boy into their lives, Larry Robert Williamson. Four years later they had a baby girl on April 4, 1955, Susan Lynn Williamson Underwood. After the children were born, she decided to stay home and be a wife and homemaker, often times watching her many nephews and nieces. During this time Mary and Bob became very active members of Portland Ave. Baptist Church. They taught children's sunday school, helped in the office as "money counters", sponsored Falls Creek Church Camp, and much much more. She decided to go back to work once her children were older. She had several different occupations, the last being W.W. Grainger's where she retired.

When her children decided to marry, Gary Underwood and Glenda Yarbrough Williamson became part of her family. In 1973 she began her "Granny" career. She had six grandchildren; Kristi Williamson Swinney, Julie Williamson Pennington, Alicia Williamson Kastl, Kerri Underwood Sangalli, Kurt Underwood and Weston Williamson. She was very involved in their lives and loved each of them very much. She was proud to accept their spouses into her family as her own; Paul Swinney, Michael Pennington, Keith Kastl, Shane Sangalli, and Jessica Bush Underwood. But as much as she loved her grandchildren her great grandchildren were the joy of her life. She lit up each time she saw them. They range from the age of 16 to 3 years; Alec Pennignton, Kassidy Kastl, Emry Swinney, Will Sangalli, Evan Swinney, Carter Sangalli, and Kinley Kastl. She loved to watch them at their many activities, whether that was sports or dance, she was there for it all.

Mary's other activities that she enjoyed were sewing, quilting, traveling the world, shopping, cooking, and gardening. But most of all she loved learning and studying the Bible. Her ministry to others was through visiting the sick and home bound, and writing a card to a loved one. After a sudden illness she went to be with her Lord Jesus Christ on July 29, 2012.

We can only imagine the joy that her beloved Bob had when he saw her at Heaven's Gate.

Her services will be 10 a.m., Wednesday, August 1, 2012, at Portland Avenue Baptist Church. Visitation will be at Bill Merritt Funeral Service, Tuesday 3pm-8pm.

In lieu of flowers you can make donations to the Portland Avenue Children's Building Fund at 1301 N Portland Avenue, Oklahoma City, 73107.