Obituary of Doris Jean Williams

Doris Jean McNatt Williams, age 83, slipped away from this world about noon, Friday, September 30, 2017, when her heart quietly stopped at Carriage House Hill Country Cottage. Her work on earth had been fulfilled and the great Creator called her home.

Doris Jean McNatt was born August 16, 1934, in Hunt County, TX, to Loyd Cloyse McNatt and Virgie Lee Easley McNatt. She was raised in times where parents often had go where the work was. Her parents were migrant farm workers, so when she and her sister were of school age or near, they stayed with and were raised by their grandparents, Archie and Maude Easley. Doris graduated from DeKalb High School at the age of 16, having skipped a grade due to her ability to learn quickly. She attended one year at East Texas State Teachers College in Commerce. On her commutes to and from college, Doris met the man of her dreams, Marshall Neal Williams, with whom she shared the better part of 63 years before his passing.

Together in the Old Testament ways, they wisely raised four children with whom they were blessed and by whom she is survived. Doris was proud of her children and their successes. She provided a strong foundation for each of them to be confident at whatever they undertook. Later in years, she loved to talk about her ten grandchildren, of which nine were girls and only one a boy. They became the jewels in her crown, but they were not the only jewels. Four more were added one at a time, as she was blessed with four great grandchildren. All survive their mother and grandmother. Doris's brood, as she might lovingly have called them, include her daughter, Marsha Jean Williams-Harris of Sulphur Bluff; Robert Loyd "Bob" Williams and wife Lynda, of Commerce; Jimmy Neal Williams of Smithville, OK; and Billy Wayne Williams and wife Pam, of Mt. Vernon. Grandchildren and great grandchildren include Krystina Offutt of Sulphur Bluff and children, Trenton and Rylie, of Pattonville; De'Anna Harris of Mt. Pleasant; Amy Williams Hollenshead and son, Jonas, of Keller; Julie Williams of Arkadelphia, AR; Katy Williams of Sherman; Twauna, Shawna and Clancey Williams of Durant, OK; Alicia Williams of Sherman; and Cooper Williams and wife Courtnee and their children, Conner and Copelynn of Mt. Vernon.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Virgie Lee Easley McNatt; her father, L. C. "Buster" McNatt; her step-mother Nancy McNatt; and her loving younger sister, Ruby Juanita McNatt Humphrey.

Doris was always active in the Sulphur Bluff Community, where she served as a past PTA president and was active in many capacities as her children completed school, even substitute teaching. She served as assistant post master for the local post office during her children’s' younger years, later working for the Northeast Texas Farmers' Cooperative in sales. She worked for Shelton's Propane and Furniture Store in Mt. Vernon and in Sulphur Springs. When the computer became a major part of the office work, she said it was time to "retire" from filling in at Shelton's. During all, Doris was a full-time mother and wife, beginning her days early as 3:30 a.m. during her husband's construction career. She took care of feeding the cows on the ranch and making sure things ran smoothly there, raised a garden and had chickens. She was a true country wife in all aspects. She was very organized and cared about others in her community. She was active in the Rural Community Association programs, helped with the 4-H Club, and readily stepped up when an extra hand was needed for cooking, serving and washing dishes at community gatherings. Doris was a member of the Sulphur Bluff Methodist Church, Sulphur Bluff Order of Eastern Star #246 and past member of Mt. Vernon Order of Eastern Star #956.

It was obvious, Doris loved people, and she rarely met a stranger. Even in her last days, she would strike up conversations with those she met and try to determine if she knew them. If she were given five minutes with a stranger...they would most likely know someone in common. Give her twenty minutes and the chances were 50/50 they would be related. Doris simply proved what the Bible says, that we are all related. We are all children of God.

After such a full life, Doris's body was worn and tired, but her spirit was still strong. That was witnessed often during her many happy encounters with those she met during her last days in the hospital and nursing home. Doris Jean had completed all the things her earthly body would allow, so she talked with God and they agreed to retire her body and He reclaimed her spirit home. We will miss her greatly, but we believe she is simply moving on to another call to help others in whatever the Heavenly Father deems suitable.