Richard Lee Williams

Richard Lee Williams, almost exclusively known to the community as “Big R’, left this earthly realm on January 18, 2017 @ 12:36pm to join his wife Nancy and his Lord and Savior. He passed peacefully surrounded by his family on the wings of a prayer. Big R was born to Robert Coy and Marie Carlson Williams on March 15, 1934 in Elsa Texas. He was raised in the Rio Grande Valley where he met, courted and then married Nancy Jarrett in April 1954 in the neighboring town of Edcouch Texas. In 1956, Big R entered the Department of Public Safety Academy in Austin, Texas. He spent the early years in many areas of Texas, even working security detail for LBJ at the ranch, before being transferred to Lampasas in 1965 with his wife and children Ricky, Mike and Melanie where he planted some BIG roots. Big R served the State of Texas for 40 years, retiring in 1996, most of that time as a State Trooper. He was awarded the title of Honorary Texas Ranger for his years of service. “Big R had a heart as big as he was Tall”. Due to this and a daily morning prayer he heard for many years for the youth of this community, he felt that God was directing him to minister to the children. Big R started the youth program “HIS KIDS” in 1977, and oversaw the ministry literally until his dying days, hugging and getting last Yankee Dimes from the children who came to visit. Big R was an elder of the Broad Street Church of Christ for many years, before being ordained minister around 1980 at the Pearl Church of Christ in Pearl, Texas. He preached there on and off and made monthly visits to listen to sermons even in the last few months. In his later years you could catch him bringing church to people in their own homes, where he would supply the doughnuts and communion was whatever bread and juice on hand. He also served on the Child Welfare Board and on the Lampasas School Board and was involved with the starting of Lampasas County for Kids. In case you haven’t noticed a pattern, the youth of this community were a huge part of his day to day. Even attending almost every sporting event we have as a community to cheer on “His Kids”. Big R and Nancy retired in 1998 and traveled peacefully together with only the company of their dog Freddy, extensively in an RV throughout the United States for about 10 years before illness brought them back. They parked their RV in Boone’s RV Park for many years until Nancy passed away in 2011. Big R taught our community unconditional love. Serving the youth group HIS KIDS was his passion and anyone who met him, be it quickly at the store or at his Wednesday morning breakfast, knew of this love he had for the children. Big R’s lifelong dream was to establish a scholarship fund for the children of HIS KIDS to be able to attend HIS HILL Bible college in Comfort, Texas. His dream was realized this year when we were able to provide funds to send a young woman of this community to HIS HILL. She is now starting her second semester. As per Big R, in lieu of flowers, his wish is that donations be sent to HIS KIDS, P.O. Box 1323, Lampasas, Texas. Big R is survived by his brother, Ron Williams, of Leakey, Texas; Sister-in-law, Sue Harper of Sequin, Texas; his children Rick and wife Beverly Williams of Cedar Creek, Texas; Mike and Diane Williams of Colorado Springs, Colorado; Melanie and Robert Delaune of Lampasas, Texas. Big R’s Children of Choice are too many names to list. You know who you are and each one of you know he loved you very much. And several nieces and nephews. Grandchildren: David and Maria Williams; Krista Williams; Kelli and Jason Naeb; Leslie Schaub and Rod DeCarvalho; Jarrett and Holli Schaub; Douglas and Pam Kahlstrom; Holli and Jake Uber; Mary Lee Williams. Big R has 23 great grandchildren; Nathan, Ryan, Paige, Brook and Matthew; Catie, Brianna, Delaney, Gillian and AJ; Holland and Zander; Ethan, William and Oliver; Jovi, Leni and Lou; Jack, Ozzie and Elouise, Makayla and Macie. Big R’s Grandchildren of Choice are also too many to mention, anyone who passed through his program felt they had another grandfather or father to keep them in line, tell them he was proud of them, give them a hug, cheer them on…. Or just to steal a Yankee Dime. Visitation is Friday January 20, 2017 from 6-7 p.m. at Grace Fellowship on Hwy 281 South in Lampasas. Funeral service is Saturday January 21, 2017 at 3:00 p.m. at Grace Fellowship.