Ross Gordon Williams
Graveside services for Ross Gordon Williams, 79, of Many, LA will be held on Friday, December 16, 2022 2:00 PM at Florien Cemetery. Services will be officiated by Wayne Chance, Brian Copeland and Bill Williams.
Ross Gordon Williams was born on the Ides of March, March 15, 1943 to Gordon and Eddie Mae Williams (Cook) at Highland Hospital in Shreveport, Louisiana. He entered eternal rest peacefully at his home on December 12, 2022.
Ross was a native of Florien, LA where his parents owned a general store. Ross enjoyed sharing stories of delivering goods to the people of Florien. He graduated from Florien High School in 1961 where he played Center for the Florien Black Cats basketball team. He would later graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in Art Education from Northwestern State University in 1966.
He married Ann Coleman, the love of his life, on January 17, 1964. This January they would have celebrated 59 years of marriage.
Ross went back to Northwestern State University and was one of the first candidates to complete a Masters in Education Technology in 1993. He was a state recognized pioneer in Education Technology. He was an educator for 36 years teaching in Sabine and Vernon Parishes. He taught everything from Journalism, Drafting, Social Studies, Woodshop, Photography, Art and Technology. He always enjoyed seeing former students and hearing about their families and accomplishments.
Ross was a man of many talents. He was a photographer for countless weddings, dances, engagements and ball teams. Ross explored art in many mediums: pottery, photography, oil, water colors, charcoal, stained glass, airbrush, silkscreen and furniture. He loved sharing his flower and landscape photos with friends. He expressed his creativity and curiosity in many personal projects over his lifetime such as a hexagon gazebo, moving and restoring the former KCS depot in Florien and building an earth sheltered home. Another of his talents was his deep singing voice. He was a lifelong singer in multiple choirs, a member of the Joyful Noise Quartet and a member of the Many Christmas cantata. He shared his love of music by enjoying listening to music and going to concerts with his family.
Ross enjoyed many hobbies including ATV riding with his son, taking pictures of nature, working in the yard, building his own picture frames and spending time with his grandchildren. He enjoyed a midlife crisis by exploring the US on the back of a Harley Davidson motorcycle and later in his BMW convertible. He and Ann went on many amazing adventures with lifelong friends.
One of his greatest joys was being a grandfather to Julia and Ben. Few children in the western hemisphere had more photos taken of them. He spent many hours playing with Julia and Ben and building whatever they wanted whether it was wooden trucks or cardboard castles. He would then spend hours editing and applying special filters to those pictures.
Ross was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife, Ann, daughter Rosalyn Williams of Many, LA, son Ron Williams and wife Valarie of Many, LA, his two precious grandchildren Julia Williams and Ben Williams, brothers Bill Williams and wife Judy of Tallahassee, FL and David Williams and wife Suzanne of Florien, LA, and a host of nieces, nephews and friends.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.
