Mable L. Williams, 92, died peacefully on May 7, 2005 at St. John's Hospital in Joplin, MO. She was born in Vacaville, CA on August 4, 1912 to Arthur and Inez Vaca Stevens. Mable was married on February 23, 1929 to Samuel Davis Williams, Jr. in Vallejo, CA. Together they owned and operated several small businesses including a typewriter repair and sales business and The Bonny Nut Shop. The couple moved to Tiff City, OK, located on the Cowskin area of Grand Lake in 1948 where they developed a commercial minnow and bait farm. During that time, they also developed Blue Bluff Harbor Resort. In 1956, they opened the Grand Lake Sports Center located at 3rd and Main Street in Downtown Grove. Mable and husband Sam were avid promoters of the Grand Lake area. Together, with other resort owners, they helped form the Grand Lake Association where Sam became its first president. Mrs. Williams, a long time resident of Grove was a loving wife, loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great grandmother. She and her family are ever appreciative of the professional, attentive and loving care she received from Dr. Shawn Anderson and staff, Grove General Hospital and the staff of St. John's Hospital in Joplin, MO.
Survivors include her son, Samuel D. (Dave) Williams III and his wife Carolyn of Grove; seven grandchildren, Patricia Herrington of Cooper City, FL, Kristy Friedman and husband Allen of Mesa, AZ, Steven Smith and wife Lori of Oceanside, CA, Samuel D. Williams IV and wife Patti of Marathon, FL, Joseph Williams and wife Candice of Baton Rouge, LA and Shannon Johnson and husband John of Grove; nine great grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren. Mable was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 66 years, Sam, her daughter Dolores M. Smith, her son-in-law Lee Smith and her grandson Wesley S. Williams.
A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, May 10, 2005 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Grove. Committal services will be held at Olympus Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: St. Andrews Episcopal Church Building Fund, or Angel of Hope at Lendonwood Gardens.
Services are under the direction of Worley-Luginbuel Funeral Home, Grove.