Donald (Don) Shore Williams

Donald Shore Williams, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, and friend, went to be with the Lord Jesus on Saturday, August 3, 2024, at the age of 91.  We were blessed beyond words to have had him in our lives and count dear every moment we had with him.  Few have been loved more by their family, in large part, because he loved us well and taught us well.  He was generous, kind and so loving, accepting everyone; never judgmental. He showed us how to love in the ways he loved his wife Patricia and loved us and our kids. He also gave us a wonderful example of how he loved the church and loved through fellowship. He was always encouraging and adventurous. The great affection he fostered among us brought us together, even though we lived so far apart.  None of us had to wonder how he felt about us.  We were told often how much he loved us and how important we were to him.  No matter what he was doing, he continually took time to share in our lives when we called, setting aside what he was going on in his life, to fully engage in ours. Not a birthday or an anniversary went by that he didn’t call to wish us well and celebrate the occasion with us.  He was a teacher; as he taught grandkids how to snow ski, drive a stick shift, target practice, manage what life has handed you and the value of hard work. Don’s passion for relationships extended beyond his family to all those with whom he came into contact.  He leaves a legacy of love in our lives and the lives of others through the wonderful example of the life he lived.

Don was born on September 15, 1932, in Wichita, Kansas, the youngest of two sons, to George Fred and Olive Shore Williams. While his dad spent much of his time in Baca County, he grew up in a small home in Wichita where he would play and explore with friends from the neighborhood.  He first learned the value of hard work through his job as a paper delivery boy for the Wichita Eagle Beacon.  Don would wake up early, collect and fold the papers and then deliver them on his bike.  Don attended school in Wichita and was accomplished on the piano and played trombone in the band.  It was in biology class as a junior at Wichita North High School that a sweet girl named Patricia Kelly caught Don’s eye. They became high school sweethearts and graduated together from North High in 1950.  Don and Pat remained loyal to their high school classmates as they kept in contact with them throughout the years, returning for many of their reunions to recount their time at North High.

After high school, Don attended Kansas State University in Manhattan, KS earning a bachelor’s degree in accounting in 1954. As he did in high school, Don grew his relationships with his fellow Wildcats, pledging to the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity, enjoying trips to their annual conventions and utilizing his accounting skills as treasurer for the fraternity.  Many of his fraternity brothers remained lifelong friends as they would reunite around shared vacations.  He and Pat were married on August 16, 1953, while he was still a student at K-State.  They remained faithful Wildcat fans throughout their lives, returning to Manhattan for various sporting events every few years.

Upon graduation from K-State, Don pursued his dream of flying by joining the United States Air Force in 1954.  He enjoyed flying the various trainer aircraft and ultimately piloted B-25 and B-36 aircraft.  The Airforce moved Don and Pat around the country from Columbus, MS to Goodfellow AFB in San Angelo, TX and ultimately to Fairchild AFB in Spokane, WA.  Shortly after the birth of their first child, Don was temporarily assigned to an airbase in Guam.  He enjoyed recalling this phase of his service and the opportunities it provided to visit other Asia Pacific countries including Japan.  Many of his stories centered around the friendships he and Pat gained during this part of their lives.  As with other relationships in his life he continued to build upon these friendships over the years, enjoying travels together and many reunions.  During his career in the military from 1954 -1957, Don achieved the rank of Lieutenant and received a National Defense Service medal, Outstanding Unit award and a Presidential Unit Citation.

As Don was considering whether to re-enlist, his brother Eugene showed up in Spokane for a visit and encouraged him to return to Wichita and join the family business, G. Fred Williams Broomcorn Company.  After his father’s death in November of 1957, Don and Pat moved to Springfield, CO in March of 1958 to manage the farming operation and to grow their broomcorn supply network.  Don was a wise businessman and enjoyed building relationships with farmers and other broomcorn buyers in the region.  From his office in the old Hamilton Hotel, he would manage the farm operations including the purchasing of broomcorn production and transportation of the baled broomcorn from Colorado to Wichita where his brother Eugene would market it and manage the railroad transportation to the manufacturer.  As broomcorn production declined in the area Don managed the transition into other dryland crops of wheat, milo and corn, even experimenting with sunflowers (which Patricia was quite fond of).  In June of 1975, Don’s beloved brother Eugene passed away after which Don took over his brother’s share and managed the farming operation on his own.

After coming to Springfield in 1958, Don and Pat quickly claimed Springfield as “home” as they poured into their relationships with their many good friends and the farmers with whom he partnered.  They enjoyed couples’ bridge club, couples’ bowling league, and supporting their childrens’ interests in Cub Scouts, 4-H, and school sports. Don was a regular member of the Springfield Methodist Church and served in the church and the Springfield community as city councilman and Mayor Pro Tem. He so loved the community in Springfield which included sharing in the community coffee table at NAPA and the Longhorn Cafe. He also had a heart for those who had lost loved ones themselves or had other needs. Don enjoyed many travels with Pat over the years, some with local friends and other trips visiting their children, grandchildren, fraternity, and Air Force friends.  They especially enjoyed taking their grandkids to baseball spring training and on trips to the Royal Gorge and the mountains on western Colorado and northern New Mexico including the mountain railroads.  For over 60 years Don and Pat built a foundation of love and support, and shared adventures and memories until the Lord called Patricia home in March of 2014.

In April of 2023, Don moved to Legacy at Town Square Assisted Living in Amarillo where the friendly residents and caregivers welcomed him. He enjoyed weekly and holiday activities and a special celebration for Veterans Day. Don especially appreciated the remembrances from his friends and those he worked closely with through their personal visits and the many encouraging phone calls, cards and notes.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Pat, his parents, his older brother Eugene Williams, and his sister-in-law Frankie Williams.

Don will be lovingly remembered by his children, a son, Mike and wife Charla of Amarillo, Texas, a daughter, Karen Bowling and husband Barry of Keller, Texas, a son, David and wife Linda of Tomball, Texas; seven grandchildren, Ryan Williams and family of Prague, Czech Republic, Trenton Williams and family of Celina, Texas, Nathan Williams and family of Lewisville, Texas, Will Bowling of Dallas, Texas, Abbey Bowling of Farmers Branch, Texas, Kristen Jones and family of Wichita, Kansas, and Blake Williams of Hempstead, Texas; ten great-grandchildren, and several nieces.

Funeral service will be held Monday, August 12, 2024, at 1:30 pm at the Springfield Methodist Church, 901 Colorado Street, Springfield, Colorado with interment in the Springfield Cemetery. Maltbie Funeral Services is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Springfield Methodist Church, PO Box 193, Springfield, CO 81073 or to the Southeast Colorado Hospital at 373 E. 10th Avenue, Springfield, CO 81073.