Dorothy Marie Williams Steward was born August 16, 1926 in Rosebud, Falls County, Texas. She passed from this life into the next in Bryan, Texas, the evening of October 30, 2009. Interment will be in Elmwood Cemetery in Abilene, Texas, at a later date.
Dorothy, who went by Dot, graduated from Abilene Christian College with a degree in Business in 1948 and worked for years as a secretary, first in churches in Abilene and in Portland, Oregon, and then as an executive secretary with Humble Oil in Houston. She married Chester E. Steward in 1968, in Houston, Texas, and moved to Steward Ranch outside of Durango, Colorado.
She was a painter, sculptor, seamstress, amateur rock hound, and avid reader. She enjoyed driving the tractors on the ranch and all aspects of life on a mountain ranch. She had no children but was a great influence on her nieces and nephews. She was a woman of great faith. In her retirement, she lived in Farmington, New Mexico, Tucson, Arizona, and most recently in Bryan, Texas, at the Carriage Inn and St. Joseph Manor.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Ewell R. Williams, Sr. and Nora Mae Young Williams, her brother, Ewell R. Williams, Jr., and her husband, Chester E. Steward.
She is survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Rosemary and Bob Newman, of Pasadena, TX; nephews, Peter E. Williams and wife Jenifer, of Oklahoma, John D. Williams, of Bryan, TX, J. Eric Williams and wife Robin, of Spring, TX; nieces, Molly Garwood and husband Peter, of Donie, TX, Kathryn Mary Black, of Houston, TX; sister-in-law, Freda Rhoads; and nine great nieces and nephews.
Freda,
How my heart sank for you when I read this and am still trying to figure out what happened. I loved her, I loved her beautiful mult-colored sweaters she made and wore…I knew her only for a brief time and know, that we played a vital role in bringing her to Bryan at the Carriage Inn last year. I am so rewarded in knowing she was able to be close to you this year as we all didn’t know it would be her last on this earth. She was a trooper, a great woman of faith and loved her husband so very dearly. I admired her tenacity!!!! Please know I am rejoicing as she is singing w/Jesus w/my beloved Me Me whom I spoke w/Dot often about whom I miss so very much. I had open heart surgery for an aneryisum on April 1 this year (that is why I was so sick at CInn)!!! I am renewed in my faith, and take each day as it’s my last b/c I’ve faced death. I am content in knowing she is beside the Father.
Love to you all,
Meredith Guyton
Marketing Director for Magnifed but dear friend to you as always!
Dear Dotsie, I miss you. It seems that everything reminds me of you right now. Even my feet!! I remember when you were in the hospital in Farmington following your auto accident. I caught a glimpse of your bare feet and at first thought, “those are my feet!”. That is when I realized that I had inherited your feet. Such an honor! Now it is my prayer that I will be able to follow in your footsteps in my life here on earth and after. You have set a shining example for me to follow, so that I, like you, will be able to lay my crown at the feet of Jesus.
Dot would have us know what this poem expresses. The poem is by Martha Snell Nicholson.
THE OTHER SIDE
This isn’t death-it’s glory! It is not dark-it’s light! It isn’t stumbling, groping, Or even faith-it’s sight! This isn’t grief-it’s having My last tear wiped away; It’s sunrise-it’s the morning Of my eternal day!
This isn’t even praying-It’s speaking face to face; Listening and glimpsing The wonders of His grace. This is the end of pleading For strength to bear my pain; Not even pain’s dark mem’ry Will ever live again.
How did I bear the earth-life Before I came up higher, Before my soul was granted Its ev’ry deep desire, Before I knew this rapture Of meeting face to face The One who sought me, saved me, And kept my by His grace!
I’ll meet you in the morning, Dot!
Our relationship started as a professional one but soon grew to be much more. Dot was a shining example of God’s love and she reflected the love of God in everything that she did. We had lots of discussions about spiritual things and I always looked forward to her appointment. We would get the business out of the way and then, without fail, we would talk about the Lord. Her generosity to the endeavors that were near to her heart was exceedingly, abundantly above all that we could ever ask or think.
I will miss you, Dot. You were indeed one of God’s unique treasures in my life. But I will see you again–soon, I hope.
Dot was a dear friend and wonderful sister in Christ. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her. Our thoughts and prayers are with your family. Dot and Bud are rejoicing together now.
God bless, Francie, Chris, Elise, Abby and Arliss
What a beautiful sunset it was Dot on the evening you went “Walkabout” with Jesus.
What an entrance you had to Heaven, I shall never forget that sky! As I shall never forget how blessed I am to have known you.
Thank you Dot for being “Dot” and for the influence you have had on my life.
Finally, thank you Lord for giving us Dot, for sharing her with us and for taking her Home!
Love,
Peter G. XXXX
PS. The Lord really is our Shepherd!
Dot was such a dear friend to me that it’s hard to imagine life without her. I was blessed to be her prayer partner for around 10 years,not realizing how precious that connection would be for both of us. I was able to talk with Dot about anything and everything, and always sought her feedback when I needed advice or guidance or just wanted the love of a good friend. She helped me through the loss of my husband, and I pray I helped her through the loss of Bud. God blessed me with the privilege of being her caregiver for 7 months, and the memories I have of that time with her are a treasure to me and bring tears as I think back on the many happy, silly, laughing, sharing times we had together. Dot had such a giving spirit and a loving heart. I look forward to walking and talking with her in Heaven some day. May God bless all of her family who are missing her right now. I pray God’s comfort for you. God has surely welcomed a saint home!