Violet Radell Williams

Violet Radell Williams, better known as Radell or Memaw to her grandchildren, took her final trip to her home in Heaven to be with our Lord and Savior on October 5, 2023.  She was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on September 9, 1947 to Ray E. an Eddell Virginia Stilwell.  She passed away after long period of extreme pain and suffering from pancreatic cancer.  Even though she was just 5’1” tall, she stayed strong and encouraged others with her big smile.  Because the light of the Good Lord was shining through her, even those who were strangers wanted to talk to her everywhere she went.

She was mostly self-educated, taking online college courses and learning to type.  She worked at seven different banks throughout Texas for a total of 27 years in different positions.  All of the customers loved her and wanted her to take care of them.  Even this day we hear some of the customers coming in and asking for her. 

Radell loved all animals, but especially hummingbirds and butterflies and taking care of all stray dogs and cats.  She loved planting plants that would attract birds and butterflies.  She loved sewing clothes for her granddaughters.  She was a natural painter and artist who never took a course.  She was a dyed-in-the-wool Dallas Cowboys football fan.  You didn’t want to call her during a game; she would get very upset! Because her husband was a Texas Game Warden and was gone for many hours and sometimes for days at a time, football and going to church were her favorite pastimes.  She would go to church seven days a week, if she could, to help with whatever they needed.  She was a dedicated parishioner of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Mexia, Texas.  The summer she received the Lumen Gentium Award from the Catholic Diocese of Austin for her life, service and participation in the ministry of Christ Jesus and the Church. 

She will be truly missed by us all.  Her family can’t even begin to express their gratitude for the outpouring of love, prayers, and support from multiple denominations all over the world, including from the West Wall in Jerusalem. 

She is survived by her mother, Eddell Virginia Kramer of Mexia, Texas; her loving husband of nearly 40 years, Harvey “Burt” Williams; her daughter, Stacey Cantu and her husband, Gary of Colleyville, Texas; son, Jerry Milam and wife, Kristen of Garland, Texas; daughter, Amy McHugh and husband, John of Georgetown, Texas; son-in-law, Sheppard Parker of Bertram, Texas; and her numerous grandchildren, McKayla, Nate, Nic, Noah, Charlie, Molly, Emily, Maggie, Joshua, Addie, Isaac, Zoe, Kai, Autumn and Griffin.

She was preceded in death by her father, Ray E. Stilwell and her daughter, Michelle Parker.

A private family ceremony will be held later.  In lieu of flowers. Donations can be made to St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Mexia, Texas; The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews; The Waco Hospice, Animal Rescue of North Texas or The Kittery in Mexia, Texas. 

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