Memorial services for Yolanda "Yo" Williams were held at 2 p.m. Saturday, October 29, 2011 at the Wadley's Funeral Chapel under the direction of Wadley's Funeral Service.
Yo was born November 26, 1949 in Tucson, Arizona and died October 18, 2011 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, at the age of 61 years 10 months 23 days. Yolanda was born to Max Soper and Venla (Gardner) Mitchell. She was raised in Tucson, graduating from Flowing Wells Schools in 1967.
Yolanda and Sidney "Buzz" Williams were united in marriage on December 12, 1969, in Tucson, Arizona. They moved to Michigan and lived in Romeo for about 18 years before moving to Purcell in 1989. Yo worked as a Legal Secretary for McAfee and Taft in Oklahoma City for many years.
She and Buzz founded the Lariat Bowl, one of the largest team roping events in the nation. She enjoyed crafts, quilting, making jewelry, sewing and cooking. Yo also enjoyed Pysanka, which is Ukranian Easter Egg decorating using beeswax, and taking care of her husband and family. She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
She is survived her husband, Buzz Williams; children, Cori Wadley and husband, Jackie, and Ross Williams; grand-daughter, Cydnie Wadley, all of Purcell; siblings, Loraine Gerovac and husband, Jerry, of Goodyear, Arizona, Marilyn Bryce and husband, Boyce, of Prescott, Arizona, Diane Call and husband, Dennis, of Mesa, Arizona and many other relatives and friends who will truly miss her.
Yo was preceded in death by her father, Max, who died when she was 16; her aunt, Ann Stone; nephew, Lincoln Bryce; maternal grandparents, Taylor Owen and Celia Hunt Gardner; and paternal grandparents, Arthur John and Julia Soper Mitchell.