Ray Williams

Ray Junior Williams passed away on June 6, 2017, in Carnegie, Oklahoma, surrounded by family. Ray was born November 13, 1933, two miles northeast of Weatherford in a farm house to Jack and Audrey (Mason) Williams. Ray always claimed that November 23 was his birthday. When he applied for his Social Security he discovered his birthday was actually November 13. Ray would never say his birthday was the 13th because he was so superstitious.

When Ray was two years old his family moved to Fort Cobb, Oklahoma. When he turned 16 (in 1949) he left home and boarded a bus to chase big dreams in California. Ray married Pauline Groseclose in 1951 in California. Ray and Pauline had three children. They traveled to Kansas where Ray worked in a flour mill for three years. He then traveled back to California and started working for General Motors in 1957. He worked for General Motors for seven years and trimmed trees on the side. In 1964 Ray became self-employed when he purchased a salvage yard in California. Ray also raced cars at Saugus Speedway in Saugus, California, every weekend from 1957 till 1970. He loved watching Nascar racing on television every weekend. Ray attended his first (and only) Nascar race in person a few years ago at Talladega Speedway in Alabama. Ray instilled in his three children a love of racing that is still very present in their lives today.

In 1970 Ray sold his salvage yard in California. He married Carolyn Ward Nelson October 31, 1970, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Within two weeks after they were married, Ray and Carolyn and five teenagers were in Carnegie, Oklahoma, and on November 20, 1970, purchased the salvage yard and wrecker service. Together they ran the salvage yard and wrecker service and raised five teenagers. In Oklahoma Ray enjoyed hunting quail and training birddogs. He shared his love of hunting with his grandsons. He also enjoyed fishing. He loved taking the grandkids to Pittman's Pond to fish for 'Lippie". Ray and his brother, Jesse, ran 'trotlines' on the Washita River and caught many pounds of fish through the years. Ray prided himself for furnishing the fish for the Friday night fish fry at their annual Williams' Cousins Reunion every year for many years. Ray also loved playing cards. There was always a 'pitch' game going on at the Williams' Cousins Reunion or a poker game being played with his sisters, Wanda and Olivia.

Ray retired from the salvage yard and wrecker service in 1996. After retirement Ray busied himself with mowing yards and selling watermelon and cantaloupe. He was known around town as the watermelon man. He would take watermelon to the nurses at the Nursing Home and people at the Senior Citizens Center.

Ray was an active member of the Carnegie Church of the Nazarene and enjoyed his church family.

Ray is survived by three sons: Sherman Williams & wife, Terrie, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Orval Williams & wife, Kelly, of Carnegie, Oklahoma
Joe Nelson & wife, Dee Anne, of Edmond, Oklahoma
Two Daughters: Rachel Williams of Pell City, Alabama
Annette Nelson of Santa Clarita, California
Grandsons: Teddy Hammond, Raymond Williams, Eddie Williams, Lance Williams, Joseph Nelson, David Hong, Robert Hong, Jayson Heath and Zachary Heath
Granddaughters: Rebekka Lucas, Dr. Reagan Williams, and Jordan Nelson
Sisters: Betty Lou Spence of Carnegie, Oklahoma
Wanda Lumpkin & husband, Merle, of Fort Cobb, Oklahoma
Olivia Williams of Moore, Oklahoma
Great Grandchildren and Great Great Grandchildren and a host of relatives and friends.

Ray was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Carolyn; one daughter, Elyzbeth Banks; two brothers, Jesse Williams, Loyal Williams; and one sister, Lena Mae Hodges

In lieu of flowers the family is requesting that donations be made to the Carnegie Church of the Nazarene, Carnegie Hospital Living Memorial Fund, or Carnegie Senior Citizens Center.

Memorial service for Ray will be held Friday, June 9, 2017 at 1:30 in the afternoon at The Church of The Nazarene in Carnegie, Oklahoma.