J. Lois Williams

Jessie "Lois" Williams was born to Frank (Dick) and Hazel (Sargent) Witcombe in Quimby, Iowa, on May 9, 1927.  Lois departed this life and entered into heaven on May 16, 2021 at Hilltop Estates in Gothenburg, Nebraska.  Lois' dad came to the United States from Wales as a young boy, Lois was very proud of her Welsh heritage.

Lois grew up in a musical family, her dad being their "agent".  Her dad would drive her and her two brothers, Paul and Wayne to Yankton, South Dakota on the weekends to sing on the radio station WMAX - known as "Dick and The Outlaws".  Lois learned how to sing alto, play the piano, saxophone and violin.  The family attended and Lois was baptized in the Christian Church.

During her school years her family lived above the fire station, which also housed the jail cells.  The kids had strict instructions to use the back stairway if there were jail occupants.

Lois attended school and graduated from Wilson High School in Cherokee, Iowa.  She had a job at the public library throughout her high school years.  After high school she attended South Dakota Bible College and then transferred to Minneapolis Bible College where she met her future husband, Encil Williams.  Encil and Lois were married on June 22, 1947, at Cherokee, Iowa, during a flood.  The young couple lived in Cherokee for a short time before moving to Encil's parents' farm south of Lyman, Nebraska.  They eventually bought a farm outside of Torrington, Wyoming, and resided there for a few years before selling it and moving to town.

Lois was a natural homemaker.  She lived her life serving her family, church, community and others.  Her baking was second to none. She baked bread weekly and grandkids, family and friends looked forward to her famous cinnamon rolls.  She loved to can...everything.  Lois raised a large garden, including zucchini, which she made muffins with.  One grandson confessed that is the only way he will ever eat zucchini.  Lois loved flowers and growing them wherever she could find space.  She loved bed sheets dried on a clothesline, rocking and humming babies to sleep, listening to Rollie play the piano, sharing little jokes and scrapbooking with her grandkids.  She always had time to talk and listen to her grandkids.  She loved to hear their stories.  She never lost her sense of wonder and amazement of small things or her sense of humor.

Lois was always up for an adventure whether it was camping, hunting, fishing, or going to garage sales with her sister Betty.  Her yearly trips to Iowa to see her brother Wayne and sister Betty and families were a highlight for her.  Lois loved to sew and crochet.  She completed many quilts, afghans and matching outfits for Christie and Diana, which they tolerated.  She was known to create swing choir dresses overnight, when there was a lack of communication.

Lois taught VBS for years and was an active part of the churches she attended.  Her faith in God was very important to her.  After her children moved out, Lois dusted off her violin and began playing for church and joined a local band "The Country Ramblers" who played around the area for various functions.

Encil and Lois moved to Cozad, Nebraska, to be near to their children and grandchildren.  This move allowed them to attend their grandchildren's school events.  They became members of the Cozad Christian Church where Lois attended the women's missionary circle.

Encil preceded Lois in death in 2013.  Due to declining health Lois moved into Hilltop Estates in Gothenburg, Nebraska.  Lois kept her sense of humor and quick wit, which endeared her to the staff at Hilltop Estates.  We would like to thank Hilltop Estates for their love and care of our mom.

Preceding Lois in death are her husband, Encil; parents Frank and Hazel Witcombe; foster son Richard Williams; infant son, infant daughter; brother and sister- in-law Paul and Donna Witcombe; sister- in -law Demaris Witcombe; brother- in- law and sister- in-law Maurice and Evelyn "Betsy" Williams; nephew Bill Williams.

Lois is survived and missed by son Roland (Linda) Williams of Cozad; daughter Christie (Terry) Weinberg of Kearney; Diana (Neil) Coleman of Arnold.

13 grandchildren Abby (Jake) Frost; Jessy Williams; Aaron (Cheryl) Weinberg; Joshua (Rachel) Weinberg, Rebecca (Matt) Davis; Nathan Aguallo; Casey (Lauren) Derr; Thomas Derr; Candi (Scott) Tucker; Kerri (Brandon) Owens; Christina (Jeff) Johns; and Logan Coleman. Six foster grandchildren; 23 great grandchildren along with numerous foster great grandchildren.

Visitation will be held at Cozad Christian Church, Cozad, NE, Thursday, May 20, 2021, 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM.

Funeral Services will be held at Cozad Christian Church, Cozad, NE, Thursday, May 20, 2021 following the visitation at 11:00 AM.

Burial will be at held at 1:00 PM (MST), Friday, May 21, 2021 at Sunset Memorial Park, Scottsbluff, NE.

Memorials may be sent to the family for later designation.