Myrtle Laura Williams
September 20, 1917 - September 25, 2013
Obituary
Myrtle Laura (Lane) Williams was born on September 20, 1917 in Clinton, Oklahoma to Burley and Anna (Muir) Lane. She weighed only three pounds, small enough to sleep in a shoebox. In 1919, her family moved to Yakima, Washington. She completed eighth grade at Franklin Junior High School in 1931. As a child, Her Mom would pull her and her siblings in a little red wagon to the Free Methodist Church. Later, Myrtle began attending the Full Gospel Tabernacle in Yakima. It was there she met James Williams. James would walk Myrtle and her sister Juanita home from church, and they would tease each other about which one he was walking home.
James and Myrtle were married on Sunday, August 11, 1935 after church. Their pastor invited everyone to stay for the wedding, and afterward they all went down to the river where James and Myrtle were both baptized in water. That day, they drove twenty-six miles to their new home, a three-room house at the Thesiaus Saw Mill in Cowiche Canyon. James was nineteen at the time. Myrtle always told her children she was eighteen when she got married, but she was actually seventeen and turned eighteen a month later.
In 1937, the couple had their first child. They moved to Renton, Washington in 1948, just after their seventh child was born. In the coming years, they had three more children. Myrtle enjoyed drawing, reading, knitting, and spending time with her family. The Williams began attending the Renton Assembly of God church in about 1950. Myrtle taught Sunday school there for over thirty-five years. She prayed for each of her family members by name every day.
In 1975, the family joined together to celebrate James and Myrtle’s fortieth wedding anniversary. In 1985, there was another celebration for their fiftieth, and in 1995 over one hundred friends and family members gathered at the site of the annual family campout, Swauk Creek, for James and Myrtle’s sixtieth wedding anniversary and James’ eightieth birthday.
James passed away in 1998 and Myrtle lived on her own for many years after. In 2012, the family honored Myrtle for her ninety-fifth birthday. Over ninety immediate family members attended the party.
Myrtle died on September 25, 2013 in Renton, Washington, five days after her ninety-sixth birthday. She is survived by 136 family members, including: 10 Children, 32 Grandchildren, 56 Great Grandchildren and 3 Great Great Grandchildren, survive Myrtle. Her Father Burley Lane, Mother Anna Lane, Brothers Bud and Doug Lane, Sisters Juanita Brooks, Nadine Schuller, Vera Taft. Her Husband James M. Williams, Grandsons Tim Williams, Rocky Weglin, Ron Weglin and Great Granddaughter Hana Williams preceded her in death. We all remember her for her persistent love, positive attitude, and generous spirit. She continually praised and thanked God and said “God bless you” to everyone around her. When asked how she raised ten children, Myrtle always answered, “one day at a time, with God’s help.” Now we rejoice with her as she is in the presence of her Lord. We love you, Mom and Grandma.
A Memorial Service will be held at the New Life Church of Renton,
15711 152nd Ave SE, Renton, WA 98058 at 11 o’clock AM on Saturday, October 19, 2013
Oh how we loved you and will miss you every day!
you were not only a wonderful mom, you were a loving mother in law as well….
love you 1, 2, 3 times and more!!
It was our great privilege to have known this sweet, godly lady who prayed for our family and ministry for so many years.
We were so sad to hear of myrtles passin We loved her very much, We will miss her greatly. God bless her wonderfjul familh
This dear Angel was such a special, sweet, beautiful lady. She was truly surrounded by love and will again be united with family and friends in heaven. We were so blessed to have known her.
Our Mom was Jesus Christ in the flesh in this Earth.in how she shared her love with us.
She was the only person I could call mom & I only felt love ~ never pain from her.
Never a critical word only genuine unconditional love.
We miss you every day mom.