- Date Of Death: January 16, 2017
- State: New Mexico
Patty George Williams passed away January 16, 2017 at her home at La Vida Llena in Albuquerque. She was 98.
Born June 29, 1918 in Rosboro, AR to George H. Kemper and Nellie (Cobb) Kemper, Patty was the youngest of five. After the death of her father at an early age, her mother relocated the family to Fort Sumner, NM, where Patty attended elementary school. They moved to Gallup, NM and again to Albuquerque where she graduated from Albuquerque High School in 1936.
She attended Eastern New Mexico College in Portales, NM and Colorado State College of Education in Greeley. In 1942 she graduated from New Mexico Highlands University in Las Vegas, NM. Her teaching career included schools in Mountainair, Quemado, and Artesia, NM, Denver, CO, and Las Vegas, NM. Over the years, many of her students returned to express appreciation for her patience and caring guidance.
Patty married Robert Love Williams on June 1, 1947 in Artesia, NM. They remained there until 1957, raising their two children, Robert K. and Laura L.
She and Bob lived the next 42 years in Las Vegas, NM. Bob established the New Mexico Mill and Lumber Co. while Patty resumed teaching, retiring in 1976. They were active members of the United Methodist Church and remained engaged with community and friends. In 2000 she moved to the La Vida Llena retirement community in Albuquerque. She was honored as a fifty-year member of P.E.O in 2011.
She was an avid reader, enthusiastic tennis fan, bridge player, and sharp crossword puzzle solver. Her fondness for “Snoopy,” the “Peanuts” character, led to a collection of cherished memorabilia.
Patty was preceded in death by her husband, Robert L. Williams; a brother, Charles H. Kemper; and three sisters, Ray Cowart, Laura Kimball, and Klossie Waxler. She is survived by son, Robert K. (Lane) Williams of Philomath, OR; and daughter, Laura L. (Troy) Folkner of Cupertino, CA. Surviving grandchildren are Robert (Tonia) Stanfield of Medford, OR, Sarah Williams of Corvallis, OR, and Michael Williams of North Plains, OR. Surviving great-grandchildren are Taelor, Gabrielle, Noah, and Hannah Stanfield of Medford, OR. She is also survived by a nephew, Kenneth (Wanda) Kemper of Naples, FL; a niece, Nancy L. (Andrew) Olivas of Las Cruces, NM; and great-nieces, Autumn Moore and Manda Olivas.
Patty will fondly be remembered as a loving and devoted mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, mother-in-law, and aunt.
Monday, February 20th, 2017, 2:00pm, La Vida Llena
