Gordon Williams

Memorial services for Gordon Wheeler Williams, age 94, of Crawford, NE, will be at 2:00 PM on Sunday, October 4, 2015 at the Crawford Seventh-day Adventist Church in Crawford, Nebraska. Inurnment will be held at the Crawford City Cemetery at a later time. A memorial has been established for the Crawford Rescue Unit and the Crawford Seventh-day Adventist Church. Donations may be sent in care of Chamberlain Chapel, PO Box 970, Chadron, NE 69337. Gordon passed away peacefully at home in Crawford, NE on Thursday, September 17, 2015. He was born at home near Eaton, CO on July 4, 1921, a patriot baby who in early years thought the festive Fourth of July fireworks were for his birthday. He was the oldest of four boys born to George Roy and Gladys Lucille (Wheeler) Williams. Gordon moved with his parents and brothers Ivan, Gerald, and Royce to Northwest Nebraska when he was in grade school. Gordon practically rode horses before he could walk. As boys, Gordon and Ivan drove a wagon and team of horses to their country school each day. Gordon graduated in the class of 1941 from Crawford High School. He married his high-school sweetheart Marguerite Baker in Chadron, NE on January 10, 1943 while Marguerite was attending college at Chadron State Teachers' College (now Chadron State College). Their daughter Janeta was born that next year. Gordon had a special affinity for animals and worked on a variety of different ranches in the Panhandle, including around the Marsland, Hemingford, Broadwater, and Reddington areas. In 1951, their son Rocky was born. Gordon attended the School of Auctioneering in Billings, MT in the 1950s and was then able to realize a long-held dream of regularly working at auctions in Scottsbluff and later in Colorado when the family moved there in 1960. Into his later years, Gordon sometimes liked to talk in his auctioneer voice for fun. After about 10 years in the Denver area, Gordon and Marguerite moved to a cattle feedlot outside of Gruver, TX, where Gordon worked as Head of the Cowboys. After 15 years in Texas, the two retired in 1986 and moved back to Colorado to be closer to their daughter Janeta and her family. In 1996, they all decided to relocate back to Crawford. Gordon leaves behind his beloved wife Marguerite of 72 years; daughter Janeta (Richard) Barkley of Crawford, NE; son Rocky Williams of Scottsbluff, NE; granddaughters Deborah (Gonzell) Turner of Frederick, MD, Roxie (Eser) Graham-Marski of Chadron, NE, Kammy Marski of Joshua, TX, and Erin (Bryan) Sellers of Joshua, TX; great-grandchildren Rachel (Russell) Huggins of Oneida, NY, Robin (Brandon) Hebard of Benton Harbor, MI, Erik, Elena, Ethan, Eli, and Emilee Marski of Joshua, TX, and Dylan and Cameron Sellers of Joshua, TX; great-great-granddaughter Hadley Huggins of Oneida, NY; sisters-in-law Frances Williams of Lenoir City, TN and Grace Williams of Gresham, OR; as well as several cousins, nieces, nephews, and countless friends. Gordon was preceded in death by parents George Roy and Gladys Lucille (Wheeler) Williams; brothers Ivan Williams, Gerald Williams, and Royce Williams; sisters-in-law Irma Williams and Evelyn Williams; son-in-law Duane Graham; and grandsons L.I. Soester and Brandon Williams. Gordon loved life, never met a stranger, was a hard worker and generous with his time and resources, and always had a joke ready. He is sorely missed as he now rests in Jesus, and his family is eagerly awaiting a grand reunion on resurrection morning!�½�½

Service:

Sunday, October 4, 2015 ~ 2:00 PM

Seventh-Day Adventist Crawford, Nebraska�½�½