Velma Koons Williams

Velma Koons Williams passed peacefully in her sleep on November 6, 2024, in Seattle, Washington at the age of 101. She was born on a farm near Homestead, Oklahoma to Joseph and Nellie Koons. She lived through the Oklahoma Dustbowl, The Great Depression, Service as a U.S. Navy Nurse during World War II, epidemic periods of measles, chickenpox, polio and Covid 19. She was the longest surviving of six children in the family.

After she graduated from Homestead High School, Velma completed nursing school and was proud to achieve the highest score on the state boards to become an RN. She served in the US Navy during World War II at Corpus Christi, Texas. She was a student at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater when she met Grady Williams at a Wesley Foundation meeting. They married about 6 months later.

Velma worked as a nurse for several years as they started a family. She “retired” after Grady obtained his PhD in Dairy Science and started a position in Mound Valley, Kansas. She learned to drive a car and spent time sewing, cooking, leading 4-H Club activities, driving to piano lessons for the kids, participating in Methodist Church activities, and enjoying Bridge Club and Pinochle Clubs

Late in 1965 the family moved to Puyallup, Washington for Grady’s employment with the Washington State University Agricultural Extension Service. Velma was always ready to serve dinner with a fresh-baked pie and endless pots of coffee to visiting workers. In Puyallup, Velma continued to enjoy close friendships with neighbors and her church family at the Puyallup United Methodist Church. She also enjoyed garden club and studied painting. She quietly volunteered her service to migrant workers and a local clinic. Velma continued to enjoy sewing, including a wedding dress for her daughter. She was especially proud to win the Crisco Pie Contest at the Western Washington State Fair using berries grown on their property. She loved serving fresh baked cinnamon rolls to her grandchildren. If someone was sad, Velma had a cup of tea and a sympathetic ear.  Velma and Grady moved to Seattle in 2018 to be closer to their son, Joe, and his family. Grady passed in 2019. Her survivors are her daughter Leta Maco (David) of Brentwood, California, son Joe Williams (Elizabeth Broderick) of Seattle, Washington as well as grandchildren; Jennifer Mathews (Kevin), David Maco (Chelsea), Magdalena Williams, Grady Williams (Elsa Ayala), and Juliana Williams. Her four great grandchildren are Lily Maco, Abigail Maco, Luke Mathews, and Lawrence Mathews.

 Military Funeral Honors will be presented at Tahoma National Cemetery, Kent, Washington, Friday, November 15, 2024 at 10:00am.