Clary Funeral Homes, LLC


Beulah Viola Williams		Click to Enlarge Photo
*November 1st, 1905 - July 14th, 2009*
From:	Alton, MO
Visitation:	11:00am-1:00pm Friday July 17, 2009 Clary Funeral Home Alton, MO
Funeral:	1:00pm Friday July 17, 2009 Clary Funeral Home Alton, MO
Burial:	Many Springs Cemetery

Beulah Viola Patton Williams left this earthly world for her heavenly home on July 14,2009, at the age of 103 years, 8 months, and 13 days. Beulah was born on November 1, 1905 in the Archey community near Clinton, Arkansas, to George Cleveland and Mary Levina Hayes Patton. She was the eldest of four brothers and four sisters. Beulah and William Anderson Williams were married on October 11,1925, at her home in Archey by her Uncle Samuel Patton. Anderson preceded her in death on April 2, 1978. To the union of Beulah and Anderson were born five children: Ena, Veda, Vera, Roger, and Wendell. They also had seventeen grandchildren, thirty six great-grandchildren and ten great-great grandchildren. Other family members who preceded her in death besides her husband were her parents, George and Mary Patton; her father-in-law and mother-in-law, John and Sarah Lavina Broyles Williams; two sons-in-law, Gordon Oliver and Russell Locke; one great grandson, Dustin Locke; one great-great granddaughter, Anna Bubendorf. She was also preceded in death by four brothers: Lloyd, Alphard, Etheridge, and Austin Patton and one sister, Olieva Barnes; thirteen brothers-in-law, ten sisters-in-law, a special cousin, Sybil Patton Hamilton and her high school roommate and close friend, Laura Bowman.. Survivors include her immediate family: DAUGHTER: Ena Oliver, Texarkana, TX, and her family: Faith and Norman Burdick, Galesburg, IL; Flannery and Andy Scott, Boulder, CO; Jeremy and Beth Oliver, Fargo, ND; Sharon, Alex, Jeremy, Sofia, and Caleb Ibarra, Lewisville, TX; Cassie and Sith Hansana, Detroit Lakes, MN; Tricia, Mike, and Leila Louise Kraft, Fargo, ND; Shawn, Harriett, Brennan, and Sydney Oliver, Kingwood, TX; and Charis, David, Patrick, Hunter, and Seth Ferryman, Justin, TX. DAUGHTER: Veda Locke, Springfield, MO, and her family: Judith and Larry Miller, Lees Summit, MO; Sharolyn and Eric Callahan, Ciara Aldridge and Brayden Callahan, Merriam, KS; Brian and Sara Miller, Springfield, MO; Stacey and David Rios, Guadalajara, Mexico; and Todd, Andrea, and Teagan Miller, Wichita, KS; Martin, Pam, Daniel, and Nathan Locke, Oxford, MS; Stephen, Tonya, Heather and Emilie Locke, Battlefield, MO; Charles, Donita and Tyler Locke, Kansas City, MO; Anna Locke, Champaign, IL; and Alan, Beth, Melissa, and Benjamin Locke, Johannesburg, South Africa. DAUGHTER: Vera Mae Williams, Alton, Missouri. SON: Roger and Eleanor Williams, Dubois, WY, and their family: Elizabeth and Mike Norvell, Springfield, MO; Nicole, Jason, Isaac, and Kadyn Magers, St. Louis, MO; John, Dixie, Ryan, and Kelsey Williams, West Plains, MO; Jo, Glen, Megan, and Jordan Andrews, Greenwood, MO; and Alice, Steven, and Alex Mills, Alton, MO. SON: Wendell and Rebecca Williams, Alton, MO, and their family: Pearl, Robert, Andrew, and Audrey Martin, Amarillo, TX; Sarah, David, Katherine, Kristina, and Kari Russback, Alton, MO; Martha, Randy, and Hunter Patton Williams, Lebanon, MO; BrettWilliams, Overland Park, KS; and George, Terra and Hannah Williams, Ft. Wayne, IN. Other survivors are three sisters: Lela Jordan and Juanita Ferrell, Springdale, AR, and Lola Briscoe, Yukon, OK; and two sisters-in-law: Vela Rook, Clinton, AR, and Paula Patton, Springdale, AR. Numerous nieces, nephews and friends also survive her. Beulah's family will remember her as a person of strength, an encourager, and a creative person with not a lazy bone in her body. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and great-great grandmother. She will be remembered as a good cook, who could 'whip up' a meal in short order. The family's favorite dessert was her butter roll. The grandchildren will remember the good meals, the quilts and clothes she made, and her crochet work. Beulah was a good helpmeet, providing and caring for her family. She was a hard worker, raising a large garden, canning food, and doing all kinds of other jobs as well as being a homemaker. How she loved her flowers! Beulah, inheriting her love of flowers from her Grandpa Joseph Hayes, had many beautiful flowers blooming in her yard throughout the growing season. She was a good neighbor and has outlived all friends of her generation. All the ladies of Many Springs Church were special to her. One of those friends, Belle Miller, and Beulah occasionally walked from their homes near Lula to the Many Springs Church for VBS or WMU meetings. In 1937, Beulah and Anderson moved from their farm in Shirley, AR, to a 160 acre farm, the Livingston Place, in the Lula community near Alton. This farm has been Beulah's home for 72 years. Recent caregivers in Beulah's home heard many stories about the good times she had on Archey Mountain with Patton relatives and especially with Cousin Sybil, and her walking up the mountain with her brother, Lloyd, to Grandpa and Grandma Hayes' house at Rocky Hill. Some of her fond memories included boarding in Clinton, AR, during high school and of good times with special friend and roommate, Laura, and especially of meeting her future husband who returned to finish high school after serving overseas in the army during World War I. After high school, Beulah taught three terms of school at Evening Shade and Chinquapin (where she had attended grade school). Beulah was saved at the age of twelve at a revival at Archey Methodist Church. She was baptized in Woolum Creek by her Uncle Samuel Patton, a Baptist preacher. Wherever Beulah lived, she was always faithful in church attendance. She was a member of Shady Grove Baptist Church in Arkansas from 1925 to 1938 and the Antioch Baptist Church in Lula, MO, from 1938 to 1948. Beulah became a member of the Many Springs Baptist Church in 1948. She served in various capacities: VBS principal and teacher, WMU president, Sunday School teacher for the Young People and Adult Women classes, as well as taking an active part in the WMU of the Eleven Point River Baptist Association. She had a deep zeal for missions, both home and foreign. The Bible verse she left for her family was John 3:16. "For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Services will be 1:00pm Friday July 17, 2009 at the Clary Funeral Home, Alton, MO, with Bro. Bob Wiggs officiating, with interment in the Many Springs Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday 11:00am-1:00pm at the funeral home. Memorials contributions may be made to Riverways Hospice or International Mission Board and left at the funeral home.

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