Marika C. Williams

Marika C. Williams of Pauls Valley was born May 8, 1912, in Woonsocket, Rhode Island,to Michael and Kxenia (Rudke) Chaharyn who had emigrated from Ukraine near the turn of the century.

She passed away on Saturday, January 9, 2010, in Pauls Valley, Okla., at the age of 97.

She met her husband, Vinston Williams, in Washington, D.C., and they were married in the Woonsocket, Rhode Island, First Presbyterian Church on July 20, 1935. Vinston preceded her in death on June 24, 1985.

She is survived by her sister, Anna Paszak of Boston, Massachusetts; four children: her daughters, Mary Jane Pope and her husband, Clyde, of Pauls Valley; and Patricia Ann McCortney and her husband, Donald, of Dallas, Texas; her sons, Michael Dwight Williams and his wife, Jean Ellen, of Grapevine, Texas; and James McSpadden Williams and his wife, Sammy, of Elmhurst, Illinois; seven grandchildren: Stephenie Anne Parks and her husband, Jim, of Pauls Valley, Abby Lynn Williams of Dallas, Texas, Marika Ann Webber and her husband, Thad, of Gun Barrel City, Texas, Matthew Chaharyn McCortney of Dallas, Texas, James Tebe Williams and his wife, Julie, of Chicago, Illinois, Cecelia Jane Dietzen and her husband, Anton, of Lombard, Illinois, and Samuel Michael Williams and his wife, Maureen, of Chicago, Illinois; and six great-grandchildren: Brandon James Parks of Pauls Valley, Jonathon Kyle Parks and his wife, Lindsey, of Norman, Brian Webber, Jake McCortney, Patrick Tebe Williams and Caroline Maureen Williams.

Memorials are requested by the family to be made in Marika C. Williams name to the Nora Sparks Warren Library, 210 N. Willow in Pauls Valley, OK 73075 or to the First Presbyterian Church at P.O. Box 506 in Pauls Valley, OK 73075.

Memorial services will be held Saturday, January 16, 2010, at 11 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Pauls Valley officiated by the Rev. Tom Buzbee.

There will be a reception following the memorial services for family and friends in the First Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall.

A private inurnment will take place at a later date. Professional services are under the direction of Stufflebean-Coffey Funeral Home. Notes of remembrance or condolences may be sent to the family at www.stufflebeanfuneralhome.com.