Harry L. Williams

Harry Lee Williams, 84, devoted husband, loving father and extraordinary grandfather to beloved grandsons Harry Marshall Williams and Timothy Lee Williams, died in Tulsa March 5, 2017 from metastatic skin cancer surrounded by his loving family. Harry was born April 6, 1932, to Jewel (nee Ikemire) and Harry "Dude" Williams in an oilfield lease house in Crawford County, IL. Beginning his education in a one-room school house and graduating from Oblong High School in 1951, Harry began a long career in the oil business, first working as a pumper in the oilfields of southeast Illinois for two years and later attending the University of Oklahoma earning an engineering degree in Petroleum Engineering. After graduating from OU in 1956, Harry began his engineering career with Arkansas Fuel Oil Co. in Shreveport, LA, later working for successor companies Cities Service and Occidental Petroleum before retiring from a management position after 35 years. Thus began a joyful 30-year second career as a successful cattle rancher on acreage near Avant, OK, north of his long-time residence in Tulsa. Early in his career in 1956, Harry met and married the love of his life, Relina DeMasi of Pittsburgh, PA; a marriage that would last over 60 years until Harry's passing. This union produced two children, Harry Louis Williams of Pittsburgh, PA and Kristy Williams Rofheart of Houston, TX. During his career, Harry and growing family lived in Shreveport, where son Harry was born, Oklahoma City, Pampa, TX where Kristy was born, and Tulsa, OK where Harry lived the last 50 years of his life. Harry is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Relina, his two children, Harry and Kristy, daughter-in-law Betsy Harris Williams of Pittsburgh, PA and son-in-law Doug Rofheart of Houston, TX. He is also survived by his aforementioned adult grandsons, Harry and Tim Williams, clearly his pride and joy, and the focus of the last twenty-five years of his life. Harry lived a long, happy and productive life. One would imagine Harry's only regret, other than the obvious of not seeing his family and how their lives unfold, is that he will not see his beloved OU Sooners win their next national collegiate football championship. Boomer Sooner! Visitation will be held Friday, March 10, 2017 from 3 PM - 6 PM at Moore's Southlawn, 9350 East 51st Street, Tulsa, OK, 74145. Burial will commence with a graveside service the following day at 2 PM at Memorial Park Cemetery. The family requests that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the Melanoma Research Foundation (melanoma.org). Moore's Southlawn 918-663-2233 share memories at www.moorefuneral.com

Harry L. Williams

April 6, 1932 - March 5, 2017