Delores Kathryn (Marden) Williamson passed from this life and into eternal rest with Jesus on April 28, 2022, at the age of 98.
She was born to Nate and Nettie Marden on July 2, 1923, in Lincoln, Nebraska. Having moved to the Willow Springs area at a young age, she attended and graduated from Willow Springs High School. Shortly after graduating, she married Sidney Williamson in February of 1942, and they settled on a small farm north of Willow Springs. To this union, three children were born, Sharon Kay, Monty Nate, and Richard Floyd.
A devoted wife and mother, Delores was an excellent homemaker, and for many decades, was also a true partner in ministry with her husband in the General Baptist Church. She felt very accomplished after being able to teach for a time at Stony Point School – a one-room schoolhouse near her home. Delores enjoyed church gatherings, ladies’ quilting day, and was an excellent seamstress for her family. She made all her daughter’s clothes and also sewed for her eldest granddaughter, who did not even own a store-bought dress until she was a junior in high school.
She loved cooking and canning, and she was an exceptionally great fudge maker – improving upon her recipe year after year. She also enjoyed working crossword puzzles and playing Scrabble, Skip-Bo, Penny on the Line, and Rook – turning into a fierce competitor, despite her sweet demeanor. One of her favorite activities was helping care for her grandchildren, and she especially loved when her family gathered around the piano to sing.
Delores was preceded in death by her parents, Nate and Nettie Marden; her husband, Sidney Williamson; sister, Clara Swecker; brother-in-law, Ralph Swecker; and a granddaughter-in-law, Emily Williamson.
She is survived by her children, Sharon Williamson-Watt and husband, Ron, of Lakewood, CO, Monty Williamson and wife, Georgia, of Mountain View, MO, and Richard Williamson and wife, Jan, of Mount Pleasant, IA; one brother, Dale Marden and wife, Alice, of Broken Arrow, OK; grandchildren, Lori Williamson Kruse Dean (Jimmy), Lisa Durnell (Dean), Kristen Faubus (Daniel), and Aaron Williamson; and eight great-grandchildren, Emily Reavis and Ty Durnell, Olivia Dean, Julia, Cora, and Samuel Faubus, and Maggie and Chloe Williamson.
A celebration of this life well-lived will be held on Friday, May 6, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. at First General Baptist Church of Willow Springs, Missouri, with Pastor Scott Williamson officiating, under the direction of Yarber Mortuary. Visitation will be at Yarber Mortuary, Willow Springs, on Thursday evening, May 5, 2022, from 6-8:00 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to First General Baptist Church (General Fund). Condolences may be expressed at www.yarbermortuary.com.
