A Celebration of the Life of Ted M. Williams will be 10:00 a.m., Thurs., Nov. 15, 2012 in the Chapel of the Garden at Rice Funeral Service. Ted will be laid to rest at Oakhaven Memorial Gardens. Friends may visit at the funeral home from 1:00 to 7:00 this evening with family receiving visitors from 5:00 to 7:00.  Ted passed away on Sat., Nov. 10, 2012. He was 59.

Born in Muskogee, Okla. on July 28, 1953, to Harvey, Sr. and Rachel (Martin) Williams, Ted was one of seven children. He received his education in his birth community. Ted earned a Bachelor’s Degree with a double major in Political Science and Native American Studies from NSU in Tahlequah. He then worked as a liaison to Native American tribes in Oklahoma through the State with the Oklahoma Indian Affairs Commission.  

Ted met his wife, Cathy Porter on Jan. 6, 1975 and proposed to her three days later in Tahlequah. The couple married on May 17, 1975 after a late start and suspicions that Ted had been kidnapped! The couple was blessed with three children. Ted and Cathy made their first home in Tahlequah then moved to Moore, Okla.  In 1979 they moved to Claremore where they have lived for 33 years.  Around the time of the move to Claremore, Ted was baptized into Christ and became an active member of Blue Starr Church of Christ where he taught the fifth grade Sunday School class for many years.

In 1984 Ted returned to school to get his accounting certificate, pumping gas at a local service station to meet his family’s living expenses. In 1985 Ted began a career as a CPA working in both public and private accounting settings.  With a desire to be an active participant in the rearing of his children, Ted did private accounting, enabling him to be involved as an Optimist basketball and baseball coach while his children were playing. He later joined the accounting firm of Waters & Seifried. President of the Northeast Oklahoma Chapter of CPAs, Ted also sat on the Board of the Oklahoma Society of CPAs.  

Steady and grounded, Ted was the anchor for his own family and often his extended family.  His lighter side was evident when his children’s friends visited and were warned that “Dad would do his best to confuse them.”  He also made sure that his grandchildren knew that if Mom and Dad said no, they could just come to Grandad.

Ted’s legacy will live on in his family where he has instilled in his children the maxims:  “Believe what you believe and don’t change your mind.”  “Convenience isn’t always right.”  “Live life to a standard of honesty and integrity.”  He also taught them to unselfishly do for others which he demonstrated as a Lifeshare organ donor.

Given the name “Ted” because he was born the same night Boston Red Sox baseball legend Ted Williams hit his first home run after returning from Korea, he was naturally very fond of baseball as well as fishing and golf.  An avid reader and Stephen King fan, Ted would read and reread his favorite novels before throwing them across the floor with a bang to indicate he had completed them…again.

Beloved husband, father, Grandad Pud, and brother, Ted touched many lives and will be missed by all.  He is survived by his wife, Cathy, of their home; his children Cory Williams of Tulsa, Scott Williams of Denver, Mary Beth Williams of Johnson City, TN, and Shaylin Williams of Claremore; his grandchildren Hudson, Grayson and Arleigh Williams; brothers Harvey Williams, Jr. and wife Janet, Verban “Red” Williams and wife Trudy, Frank Williams and wife Marcia, and Ray Williams and wife, Nancy; his sisters Jaiwana Quintana and husband Jerry, and Sally Bowline and husband Virgil; his favorite uncle Tom Martin; his sisters-in-law Pauline Ghormley and Peggy Floyd and numerous nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents.

In lieu of flowers or other condolences, the family suggests memorial contributions in Ted’s name be made to Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee, 127 Dillon Ct., Gray, TN  37615.