Mary G. (Callaway) Williams

Former Sweetwater resident, Mary Williams passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 19, 2017 at the Mabee Health Care Center in Midland, Texas.

Funeral Services will be held 10:00 A.M., Saturday, March 25, 2017 at Cate-Spencer & Trent Funeral Home Chapel with Larry Gill officiating. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery in Merkel, Texas. Arrangements are under the direction of Cate-Spencer & Trent Funeral Home.

Family will receive friends at the funeral home on Friday, March 24, 2017 from 6:00-7:30 PM.

Mary Gwendolyn Callaway Williams was born on November 8, 1925 to Henrietta Johnson Callaway and Arthur Alexander Callaway. Mary was born in Stamford, Texas and spent her childhood in the McCaulley farming community, south of Hamlin. Mary graduated from McCaulley High School in 1942. Her parents made great sacrifices to ensure that she was able to attend college, and she enrolled in Hardin- Simmons University in Abilene. She graduated with a Bachelors’ degree in 1948, and returned to HSU to complete a Master’s degree in Education in 1954. Mary had 36 year teaching career. She taught in a number of West Texas communities including Tuscola, Ballinger, Noodle-Horn, and Anson. Most of her years of teaching were spent in the Sweetwater schools where she was employed for 28 years, first at Reagan Junior High and later at Sweetwater High School. She married Dillard Williams on January 24, 1954 at First Baptist Church, Sweetwater. They initially made their home in the Noodle farming community, later living in Merkel and Anson, before returning to Sweetwater in 1967. They resided in Sweetwater until 2011, when they moved to the Manor Park Retirement Community in Midland.

In addition to her career as an English and Language Arts teacher, Mary also taught a Ladies Sunday School class at First Baptist Church for many years. As a member of First Baptist for over sixty years, she enjoyed many close friendships there. Her last years teaching were with the senior adult ladies in the Timothy Eunice Lois (TEL) class and she often said that when she promoted to the next class, it would be a big promotion. She retired from teaching in 1988 and became active in many social and community organizations- participating in The Self-Culture Club and volunteering for Senior Nutrition Activities Program, among others. Mary enjoyed needlecraft and often hosted the Sip and Sew group in her home. Mary was an active member and officer in the Sweetwater Retired Teachers Association and later joined the Midland Retired Teachers. During the years of their retirement, Mary and Dillard enjoyed traveling to research family history and were members of the Merkel Museum Association.

Mary was preceded in death by Dillard, her husband of 58 years and her sister, Lucille Hollis Herndon.

Survivors include her two daughters and their families: Kathy and Mike Hester of Midland and Gwen and Larry Koenig of Spring. Mary is survived by five grandsons and one granddaughter - Mike and Alex Hester of Midland, Jordan Hester of Midland, John and Jessi Koenig of Fallbrook, California; Luke Koenig and Andrew Koenig both of College Station, and Marianne Koenig of Lubbock and two great-grandsons- Jack Hester and Everett Klepper. Mary is also survived by a nephew, Sonny Hollis of Katy, Texas as well as Dillard’s seven nieces and six nephews. She will be remembered by those who knew her best as a living example of the Proverbs 31 woman. Mary was selfless in her dedication to her husband and children and most of all, in her love for the Lord.

Pallbearers will be Mike J. Hester, Jordan Hester, John Koenig, Luke Koenig, Andrew Koenig, and Marianne Koenig.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, 212 East 3rd, Sweetwater, Texas 79556.

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