Obituary for Murray Williams
Lowell-Tims Funeral Home
Altus, Oklahoma 73521
(580) 482-1233
WILLIAMS
Murray Reese Williams, age 92, of Altus, passed away Friday morning, October 13, 2017, at his residence, in Altus.
Mr. Williams was born in the Ozark Community of Jackson County, Oklahoma on June 7, 1925, to Walter W. and Georgia Anne (Beddingfield) Williams. A graduate of Ozark High School, Murray married the love of his life, Frances Lurlene Gresham, on December 21, 1946, and they spent the next seventy wonderful years together, before his death. Murray began growing cotton in 1947, and he bought his first cotton picker in 1958. He was President of the Lugert-Altus Irrigation District Board for twenty-five years, Director of the OSU Irrigation Research Station Advisory Board 1965-1985, First Board President of Cotton Grower's Coop, 2006 Inductee to the Oklahoma Agriculture Hall of Fame, 1958-59 Altus Jaycees Jackson County Outstanding Young Farmer, 1959 Oklahoma Jaycees State of Oklahoma Outstanding Young Farmer, 1963 Master Agronomist from Oklahoma State University, 1971-1977 Board Member of the National Cotton Council, 1979-1987 Board Member of the National Cotton Board and later became the first chairman to serve two terms, 1980 United States Cotton Farmer of the Year by Cotton Farming Magazine, 1983 Man of the Year in Service to Oklahoma Agriculture by Progressive Farmer Magazine, 2002 Governor's Oklahoma Water Pioneer Award winner from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board as well as the chairman of deacons at First Baptist Church, in Altus, for many years.
Murray was preceded in death by his parents; his son-in-law, Denny Gabler; five brothers and three sisters. He is survived by his wife, three children, Eddie Williams and wife Tina of Altus, Fran Gabler of Lubbock, Texas and Rann Williams and wife Kerri of Altus; his grandchildren, Reesa Qualia and husband Rick of Lubbock, Texas, Randy Gabler and wife Melissa of Reno, Nevada, Dedee Emory and husband Jason of Altus, Brooke Ragan and husband Doug of Ft. Worth, Texas, Bunny Stanphill and husband Steven of Stillwater, Oklahoma; his great grandchildren, Will and Jake Qualia, Luke and Claire Gabler, Allie and Bailey Goodpaster, Harper Emory, Ike and Frankie Ragan, Harrison and Emaline Stanphill, McKenzie and Callie Emory; a sister-in-law, Carolyn Gresham of Martin, Tennessee and two special nieces, Judy Williams and Diane Reib.
Funeral services for Murray Williams will be at 2 p.m., Monday, October 16, 2017, at the First Baptist Church, in Altus. Interment will follow at the Altus City Cemetery under the direction of Lowell-Tims Funeral Home, of Altus.
In lieu of flowers, the family request memorials be made to the First Baptist Church, in Altus, in memory of Murray Williams.
Online tributes and memories may be shared with the family at www.Lowell-Tims.com
Read More
Altus, Oklahoma 73521
(580) 482-1233
WILLIAMS
Murray Reese Williams, age 92, of Altus, passed away Friday morning, October 13, 2017, at his residence, in Altus.
Mr. Williams was born in the Ozark Community of Jackson County, Oklahoma on June 7, 1925, to Walter W. and Georgia Anne (Beddingfield) Williams. A graduate of Ozark High School, Murray married the love of his life, Frances Lurlene Gresham, on December 21, 1946, and they spent the next seventy wonderful years together, before his death. Murray began growing cotton in 1947, and he bought his first cotton picker in 1958. He was President of the Lugert-Altus Irrigation District Board for twenty-five years, Director of the OSU Irrigation Research Station Advisory Board 1965-1985, First Board President of Cotton Grower's Coop, 2006 Inductee to the Oklahoma Agriculture Hall of Fame, 1958-59 Altus Jaycees Jackson County Outstanding Young Farmer, 1959 Oklahoma Jaycees State of Oklahoma Outstanding Young Farmer, 1963 Master Agronomist from Oklahoma State University, 1971-1977 Board Member of the National Cotton Council, 1979-1987 Board Member of the National Cotton Board and later became the first chairman to serve two terms, 1980 United States Cotton Farmer of the Year by Cotton Farming Magazine, 1983 Man of the Year in Service to Oklahoma Agriculture by Progressive Farmer Magazine, 2002 Governor's Oklahoma Water Pioneer Award winner from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board as well as the chairman of deacons at First Baptist Church, in Altus, for many years.
Murray was preceded in death by his parents; his son-in-law, Denny Gabler; five brothers and three sisters. He is survived by his wife, three children, Eddie Williams and wife Tina of Altus, Fran Gabler of Lubbock, Texas and Rann Williams and wife Kerri of Altus; his grandchildren, Reesa Qualia and husband Rick of Lubbock, Texas, Randy Gabler and wife Melissa of Reno, Nevada, Dedee Emory and husband Jason of Altus, Brooke Ragan and husband Doug of Ft. Worth, Texas, Bunny Stanphill and husband Steven of Stillwater, Oklahoma; his great grandchildren, Will and Jake Qualia, Luke and Claire Gabler, Allie and Bailey Goodpaster, Harper Emory, Ike and Frankie Ragan, Harrison and Emaline Stanphill, McKenzie and Callie Emory; a sister-in-law, Carolyn Gresham of Martin, Tennessee and two special nieces, Judy Williams and Diane Reib.
Funeral services for Murray Williams will be at 2 p.m., Monday, October 16, 2017, at the First Baptist Church, in Altus. Interment will follow at the Altus City Cemetery under the direction of Lowell-Tims Funeral Home, of Altus.
In lieu of flowers, the family request memorials be made to the First Baptist Church, in Altus, in memory of Murray Williams.
Online tributes and memories may be shared with the family at www.Lowell-Tims.com
To send flowers in memory of Murray Williams, visit the Tribute Store.
Previous Events
Interment
Monday
16
Oct
Altus City Cemetery
Falcon Road & Veterans Drive
Altus, OK 73521
Thank you for sharing your
memory of Murray
Provide comfort for the family by sending flowers or planting a tree in memory of Murray Williams.
Send Flowers
Loading...