Bertha Iva Williams

Bertha Iva Williams passed from this life on Monday, July 9, 2007 at the Big Horn Basin Retirement Home in Basin, WY at the age of 90.

Bertha was born on January 12, 1917 in Louis, OK to Georgia Valentine Huff Murray and Noble Wesley Murray. She grew up in the Goodwill, OK area. She married W. T. Williams on April 19, 1938 in Hollis Texas.

After graduation, she attended Decatur Baptist College in Decatur, TX and received a Degree of Associate in Science in May of 1955. She then attended the North Texas State Teacher’s College from 1956 through 1957 in Denton, TX. She also attended the Hardin-Simmons University and received a Bachelor of Science Degree (Magna Cum Laude) majoring in English and Education in 1957 in Abilene, Texas. She was just nine hours shy of receiving her master’s degree.

Bertha taught 7th and 8th grade English at Anson, Texas Elementary School from 1957 through 1962. One of the pupils in her class was the former country western singer, Jeanie C. Riley who became famous for her album “Harper Valley P.T.A.” In 1967 and 1968, she and her husband operated a drive in grocery store, much like today’s convenience stores. She was the activities director at the nursing home in Wellington from 1976 to 1977 and also enjoyed working for two local florists as well. In 1997, Bertha moved to Worland to be closer to her daughter, Susie.

Bertha loved poetry and wrote many wonderful verses. Her book God Gave Me a Poem was published in 1965. She wrote many other unpublished poems as well. She was a devoted mother and found great joy in all of her family. She loved to read and she enjoyed traveling. Every time that anyone in the family had a birthday or anniversary, they received a card from her filled with loving thought and thought-out wisdom gleaned from God’s word. Her relationship with God through Jesus Christ, her Savior, was the center of her life and her family and friends celebrate her going home to heaven to live with Him eternally and look forward to seeing her again one day in that Heavenly Home.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, one son Farrell and her son-in-law, Howard Culp.

She is survived by her children Wendall (Barbara) Thomas Williams of Sweetwater, TX and Celia Lon “Susie” Culp of Worland; one sister, Edna Lois Cudd and one brother: George Talmadge Murray; Grandchildren: Kendal (Kim) Kent, Karen Kedziora, Tanya (Robert) Terry, Kim (Scott) Bartholomaus, Cindy (Steve) Kristek, Craig (Barbara) Edwards, Jason (Janet) Edwards and 13 great grandchildren.