Obituary of Marie Williams

Marie Louise Williams, 65, of Clear Lake, passed away peacefully at her home on July 15, 2009 surrounded by her loving family. She lived her life to magnify Christ and give all the glory to Him. She was preceded in death by her parents Rev. Monroe and Dorothy (Langlois) Drew Jr. Marie is survived by her husband of 41 years Richard (Dick) Williams; son Brian Williams and wife Cyndee of Springfield, MO; daughters Karen Hopkins and husband Mike of New Braunfels, TX, Janna Edwards and husband John of Tulsa, OK; brothers, Cameron Drew and wife Lynn of Conway, SC and Malcolm Drew of Mercerville, NJ; seven grandchildren, Megan, Nathan, Nolan and Stephen Hopkins and Brennan, Brooke and Aubree Williams; and a host of other family members and friends. Marie was born in Oakland, CA on March 10, 1944. She and her mother shared the same birthday. Marie was a gifted woman with many talents. She was an exceptional student athlete, artist, and musician, playing both flute and guitar. Marie was voted “Miss Trenton High School” her senior year and won other various awards for her achievements. Her first job out of high school was painting porcelain birds for the Boehm Studio in Trenton, NJ. She had fond memories of her childhood road trips and traveled with her family to forty nine states. In 1999, Marie made a trip of a lifetime with friends to Israel, where she walked where Jesus walked. Marie enjoyed photography and learned to fly in a Piper Cub with aspirations of becoming a missionary pilot. Around that time, Dick swept her off her feet and asked her “to be his co-pilot.” They enjoyed their forty-one year life-flight together. Marie devoted her life to Christ, her family, to Christian education and the development of children. She received a B.A. in Elementary and Early Childhood Education from Trenton State College and a M.Ed. in Educational Administration from the University of Arizona. Marie’s student teaching experience was with the “Junior Five Nursery Program” a pioneering demonstration nursery school in Trenton, NJ. Her first teaching experience after graduation was at the Adventure School in Tucson, AZ. A strong advocate for children’s Christian education, Marie founded and directed two Christian schools (Lamb’s Gate School in Tucson, AZ and Lord’s Gate School in Webster, TX). She was a church leader in Missions, Vacation Bible School, Pioneers and Bible Bus, which included many imaginative inputs that drew upon her creative artistic and musical talents. Most recently, Marie served as the Area Coordinator for Child Evangelism Fellowship’s After-School Good News Clubs in the Greater Galveston Bay Area. Marie lived her life selflessly, always looking to the interests of others, especially children. She loved her family and had a driving passion to train up a generation to know Christ and to hide His word in their hearts. Persevering in faith throughout her illness, Marie inspired many to “keep up the good fight of faith.” She was a pillar of strength to her family and leaves behind a legacy of love and a beautiful example of Christian faith. Our beloved Marie has now received the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. Her family is comforted with the blessed assurance of being reunited with her one day Visitation for Marie was held on Saturday, July 18, 2009 at Clayton Funeral Home, 5530 W. Broadway, Pearland, TX 77581. Memorial services were Monday, July 20, 2009 at Bay Area Presbyterian Church, 670 E Medical Center Blvd. Webster, TX 77598, officiated by Rev. John Gregory Farrell. In lieu of flowers Marie requested that donations be made to Child Evangelism Fellowship of Greater Galveston Bay Area, 6918 4th St., Hitchcock, TX 77563.