Lula Mae Williams

Lula Mae Williams, age 86, resident of Deerfield, Missouri, died early Monday, April 19, 2004, at St. John's Regional Medical Center in Joplin, following a brief illness. She was born December 28, 1917 in Goodrich, Kan., the daughter of Garfield Williams and Bertha Ryston Williams. She married Orman Williams in 1933. He preceded her in death in 1973. Lula Mae obtained the nickname of "Dumplin" as the result of her cooking excellent chicken and dumplings, She loved animals and would take in any stray and actually cook for them. Another hobby was to attend auto races with family members.

Survivors include two sons, Ronald Williams and wife Jane, Fort Scott, and Donald "Pete" Williams, Deerfield; one daughter, Arlene Thompson, Las Vegas, Nev. Also surviving is a sister, Belle Fox, Meade, Kan.; seven grandchildren, Mark Thompson and wife Shin Shin, Leah Yamasaki and husband John, and Lori Stephenson and husband Thaddeus, all of Las Vegas, Nev., Daniel Williams and wife Taira and Tracy Anderson, all of Fort Scott, Tom Anderson and wife Angie, Muskogee, Okla., and Lisa Williams, Guthrie, Okla.; five great-grandchildren, Leah, Sarah and Zipporah Stephenson, Wade Yamasaki, and Alexander Williams. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by five brothers, Emery Williams, Ted Williams, Burrell Williams, Budd Williams, and Clarence Beck; and a sister-in-law, Eurith Johnson.

Lloyd Houk will conduct funeral services at 10:30 a.m., Thursday in the Cheney Witt Memorial Chapel. Burial will be in Worsley Cemetery near Bronaugh, Missouri. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m., Wednesday in the Cheney Witt Chapel. Memorials are suggested to the Blue Chip Animal Care Fund and may be sent to Cheney Witt Chapel, P.O. Box 347, Fort Scott, Kansas 66701.