Harold Eugene (Gene) Williams died Aug. 17, 2017 at the age of 91. He was born Oct. 28, 1925 in Henryetta to Frances Lamer and James Elmer Williams. He graduated from St. Michael’s School and prior to serving in WWII he attended Kansas City Art Institute and Oklahoma A&M. After the war he went back to Oklahoma A&M (OSU) to major in Architectural Engineering. It was at OSU that he met the love of his life, Billye Joyce Hartgraves.
Gene and Joyce made their home in Okmulgee. It is there that they raised their four children and Gene set up his architecture practice. Gene volunteered for many organizations throughout his adult life; CASA, Planning & Zoning Board for the city of Okmulgee, Chamber of Commerce, Rotary, Okmulgee Junior Chamber of Commerce, Oklahoma County Adult Day Care Center, Knights of the Holy Sepulichre, American Institute of Architects, People to People delegation to the People’s Republic of China in 1981, member of the National Conference of Christians & Jews Ecumenical Group, member of Theta Kappa Phi Catholic Fraternity, and San Miguel school.
Gene was preceded in death by his wife, Billye Joyce.
He is survived by his children: Diane Ornelas (Steve), Terri Gilley (Curtis), Jimmy Williams (Jennifer), Patricia Cohen (Mitchell); 11 grandchildren: Duncan Ornelas (Mary), Amy Burden (Chad), Ashlee Towery (Todd), Zachery Ornelas (Teresa), Justin Goodman (LaCresha), Abigail Wilburn (Matt Campbell), Haley McCord (Patrick), Barrett Gilley, Bradley Williams, Tara Williams (Derek Brison) and Michael Williams: 16 great-grandchildren; brother and sister-in-law, Neil and Susanna Williams of The Villages, Florida as well as many loving nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers the family request a donation to San Miguel School or St. Anthony’s Church. Services will be Aug. 23, 2017 at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Okmulgee at 11 a.m. A rosary will be held Aug. 22, 2017 at 7 p.m. at McClendon Winters Funeral Home.