 Evelyn L. Williams was born in Lamar, Arkansas on January 11, 1931, to Henry Alfred and Mary Isabelle Wallace Williams. She was one of ten children. She never cared for the name Evelyn and for most of her life, she has been known as Betty. Betty grew up on a farm and loved it there. She was a tomboy and there wasn't anything she couldn't, or wouldn't, do. Although both of her parents had died by the time she reached her teens, she had plenty of nurturing and "parenting" by her older brothers and sisters. Betty loved basketball in high school, and she excelled it in. Shortly after graduating high school, she moved to Southern California to live with her sister, Loretta, and to work. Betty worked with a girl who introduced her to her husband's cousin, Billy Joe. Ironically, his last name was also Williams. Betty and Billy Joe became friends, started dating, and got married when she was 22. Their union was blessed with three children, Rick, Janice and Pam. She loved her family more than all else. Betty began working outside the house in about 1969, when her children were all in school. She truly loved her work as a payroll clerk for United Parcel Service (UPS) for 25 years before she retired. She was determined that her son would not have his driver's license before she did, and, she was able to get hers, just a short time before Rick got his. Betty became a widow at an early age, when her beloved husband, Billy Joe passed away in 1979, but she never faltered. Her daughter Pam says she was the strongest woman she ever knew. Betty began her happiest roll in life in 1982, with the birth of her first (and only) granddaughter, Ashley, who was the light of her life. Betty was a proud grandma. Everyone always gathered at her home, and all of her children's friends adopted her as their second mother. There was always room for one more in her small house. The Dodgers...Betty's addiction. She would re-arrange her schedule around their games during baseball season. If the games were not on TV, she would listen to them on the radio. She enjoyed basketball and the Lakers, but she loved her "boys" on the Dodgers. It goes without saying that she loved "Dodger Blue". After a devastating illness, Betty passed away in Long Beach, CA, on Tuesday, April 10, 2001. She is survived by her three children, Rick Williams, Jan Gosting and her husband Steve Gosting, and Pam Williams and her fiancee Donn Swanson; her granddaughter, Ashley Gosting; two sisters, Loretta Chronister and Emma Sue Karstetter; three brothers, Rhuel, Truett and Arlie Williams; nieces, nephews and many cherished friends. Her beloved husand Billy Joe Williams preceeded her in death. Also preceeding her in death are her parents, Henry and Mary; two sisters, Wilma and Jewell; and three brothers, Ralph, Kenneth and James. Family and friends will gather for a visitation on Thursday, April 12, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Gardenside Funeral Service. A ceremony to celebrate her life will be held on Friday, April 13, 2001, at 3:00 pm, in the Hillside Chapel at Rose Hills Memorial Park, Whittier, CA. Interment will follow the service, also at Rose Hills. Betty touched many people in her life, and she leaves a legacy of love, caring and happiness as a gift to all who knew and loved her. What can I say about my Mom that anyone who knows her does not already know. She was the most wonderful woman in the whole world. She was my Mommy. She would have done anything for her family. She adored her only grandchild Ashley. Her eyes would light up every time she walked into the door. She was the best Mom. She never judged or said a bad word to me her whole life. I miss her so much. I think of her everyday. Morning, noon and night. I miss her so much. You are in my heart and will always be remembered. Your loving daughter, Janie Sue Sue Well i dont know where to start other than i had the best Grandma in the whole world.. my grandma meant the world to me... everytime i would walk in the door to her house no matter what, the first thing she would say "is my baby's here". I spent many many summers with her.. We used to have so much fun all day when i would stay there.. Every morning when my mom would drop me off before she went to work granny would be standing on the back porch waitin for me , before we went into the house we had to check the tomatoes and water the fern.. it was just a daily thing.. Then we would check to see when the dodgers were on that day and arrange our schedule to the dodgers, we would watch every game together during the summer. For pam and I on our birthday she would make us lemon cake. boy did we love our lemon cake i couldnt wait for our birthdays to come around. One of the best times i had with grandma was when rick, karen, hayley, and I went to las vegas, she rode in the back seat with hayley and I and we lauged the whole way there and back, we all know how much granny loved las vegas. Then once i turned 18 she had me goin to the store to get her some scratchers. what can i say she loved to gamble.. well, those are just a few memories i wanted to share.. i want my grandma to know that there isnt a day that goes by that i dont think of her and miss her..she will always be remembered. But i know she is in a better place now. she will always be in my heart and i will always have the many many memories, i love u glackey !! love always and forever, Ashee-Pooh Joanne (Williams) Abernathy |
