Memorial services will be on Saturday, October 3 at 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Mineral Wells, Texas with the Pastor Nathan Buchanan officiating. Burial will take place at 3 p.m. at Woodland Park Cemetery in Mineral Wells, Texas.
Lottie Faye (Morris) Williams was born April 4, 1932, in Weatherford, Texas to William and Stella Morris. She was the youngest of six children. Lottie was preceded in death by her parents, William and Stella Morris, three brothers and two sisters. Dorman Morris of Portland, Oregon, Ray Morris of Wenatchee, Washington, Lee Morris of Fort Worth, Texas, Gladys Wilbanks of Fort Worth, Texas and Martel Culp of Wenatchee Washington.
Lottie is survived by her husband of 61 years, Ken Williams, a son, Ron Jackson and wife Patti of Sugar Land, Texas, three grandchildren, Jason Gray and his wife Angie, Spencer Jackson and his wife Ashley, and one granddaughter, Chelbi Jordan and her husband Trey. Lottie was also blessed with four great-grandchildren, Tristan and Casey Gray and Wyatt and Tucker Jackson.
Much of Lottie’s childhood was spent moving from place to place. Her father William died when she was very young, so when her mother remarried, the family was moved to wherever the work was at the time. She started her first year of high school in Cashmere, Washington where she worked picking apples in an apple orchard. While there, she was asked to be on the cover of the Washington State Brochure” which promoted the State of Washington and “The Apple Industry”. The brochure with her picture standing on a ladder picking apples, hangs on a wall in their home to this very day.
During her junior year of high school, Lottie went to live with her older sister Gladys, in Fort Worth, Texas. After graduating from Arlington Heights High School in 1949, she attended Brantley-Draughn Business School while working as a secretary at Texas Electric.
In 1951, Lottie moved to Mineral Wells, Texas where she would make her home for the next 63 years. She began her career as a secretary at Brazos River Gas, for Vice President Norman Hines. At that time, the company was owned by the Chester R. Upham family until it was sold in 1956. That same year, Chet Upham, Jr. decided to go into the oil business and started what is now known as “Upham Oil and Gas Co.” The company began with himself and two employees. Lottie as his secretary / bookkeeper and Jim Holbrook, as his geologist. That would be her life for the next 42 years. She loved her job and she treasured her friendship with the Upham family.
In 1958, Lottie met her soulmate Earle Kenneth Williams (Ken). To hear Ken tell the story, it was love at first sight . . . for him anyway!!! “It was the red hair!!! She was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen!” Lottie too was smitten, as was her little seven year old son (Ronny) from a previous marriage. After only a few short months of dating, they were married on December 21, 1958. After their honeymoon in Denver, Colorado, they would spend the next 61 years building their life together.
Lottie was never one to sit around . . . not only was she a great business and civic minded woman, she was a very compassionate one. She served her community in many different aspects and served it well.
She served as Chairman of the United Way Drive, was a member of The American Cancer Society, and she worked with the Special Gifts Division of the Palo Pinto Area Foundation which helped raise funds for the addition of a third floor to Palo Pinto General Hospital.
Her business prowess is highlighted as she was a member of Zonta International, a Professional Business Women’s Organization of which she served as President for the local branch from 1979-1981, as well as serving on the Board of Adjustments. Lottie, along with Duncan Gault received an award in 1987 from the President of the North Texas Oil and Gas Association for comprising a new “Lease Agreement Form” which would become the official form used by “The State of Texas Rail Road Commission”. The plaque reads “In Recognition of Professionalism, Dedication, and Excellence, Serving Her Employer, The Oil and Gas Industry and The State of Texas”.
She was very involved in the Republican Party. She served as County Chairman of the Republican Party of Palo Pinto County and attended several State of Texas Republican Party Conventions as a delegate representing the county she loved . . . Palo Pinto. We as her family, are so very proud of her.
Along with her big heart, her love for her family, church, friends, and coworkers, she had a fun/mischievous side, as those who know her knew well. She loved fishing, water and snow skiing, antiques, having/shopping estate sales, flea markets, garage sales, flipping houses, traveling across country in their motor home, and most of all, sitting on the porch drinking coffee and discussing the events of the day with her love of 61 years, “Kenny Whenny” as she so loving called him. To quote Ken “Lottie lived a long, full, Christian life. Her hair may have faded from red to a beautiful pearl white, but her big heart, her love of family, friends, church, work, and her generosity and appreciation of a good prank or laugh, NEVER NEVER faded.”
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