Edna Louise Williams

We gather here today to celebrate and honor the life of Edna Louise Williams, a woman whose 93 years on this earth left a lasting mark on her family, her community, and all who had the privilege of knowing her.

Edna was born on September 20, 1931, in Pritchett, Colorado, to Lewis and Mary Crisler. From the very beginning, she showed the resilience and determination that would characterize her entire life. As a young girl, she helped her father run his service station and, remarkably, even drove tanker trucks as a preteen, delivering fuel to neighboring farms. She was an eager student who loved to learn, ran on her school’s track and field team, and proved to be both a skilled marks-woman and archer.

On July 30, 1950, Edna married her high school sweetheart, DeVon Williams. She received her diploma in Christian Education from Biola in 1952. Edna’s passion for nursing took her to Johnson College of Nursing, where she graduated in 1956, beginning a career that would span half a century.

Edna and DeVon built a family and a home together. They welcomed their first child, Becky, in 1957, their son Ricky in 1960, and later, through adoption, their daughter Tina in 1969. Family was at the heart of Edna’s life, and she gave her children the same love and determination she herself had known.

Her professional career was distinguished and faithful. From her early years as a school nurse and teacher in Springfield, to directing the School of Nursing at Saint Anthony’s Hospital in Oklahoma City, to her years as a surgical nurse at the Veterans Administration Hospital, Edna served with excellence and compassion.

Edna’s life was not only marked by work and responsibility, but also by joy and creativity. She and DeVon loved traveling together, especially to Hawaii, and she cherished trips to Branson with family or on her own. She had a love for flowers, gardening, sewing, and ceramics, creating beautiful dolls and dishes with her hands.

Her faith was the foundation of her life. A devoted follower of Christ, Edna poured herself into her church community at Faith Bible Church. She taught Sunday school, cared for children in the nursery, and gave her time to the church’s card ministry, sending notes of encouragement, sympathy, and Scripture to those in need. She faithfully supported Christian ministries and missionaries, extending her influence far beyond her immediate circle.

Edna was preceded in death by her parents, her beloved husband DeVon, her son Ricky, and Rick’s wife, Cris.

She is survived by her sister Rita; her daughters Becky and Tina; her grandsons Braden and Baylor, along with their wives Victoria and Shelby; her niece and nephew, Marcy and Chris, and their daughter Amanda; and her great-grandchildren, Levi, Remi, and Berkeley. Each of them carries a piece of her love, her faith, and her legacy.

In remembering Edna, we remember a woman of great strength and great tenderness, a woman who trusted in Christ, who gave generously, who nurtured beauty in her garden, her art, her home, and her family. Her heart was big, her faith steadfast, and her love enduring.