Ida Lou Williamson's Obituary
Ida Lou Williamson passed away peacefully on Sunday evening, November 29, 2015, at the age of 90. Born Ida Lou Davis on July 12, 1925, Ida was the youngest of 7 children.
She was a native of Shady Grove, Texas and a graduate of Big Sandy High School. In 1945 Ida traveled to San Francisco, California to marry Reginald "Rags" L. Williamson, who was also from Upshur County, and who was returning home after service in the Navy during World War II. Their marriage lasted 56 years until Rags passed in 2001.
The couple moved to Dallas, but came back to East Texas to raise their three children. The family moved to White Oak, Texas in 1958, and had a dairy farm on the outskirts of White Oak. After they stopped running the diary, they moved into "town". They founded Gregg Development Corporation and were developers/builders of residential real estate in White Oak from that time forward, including 2 residential subdivisions and dozens of homes.
Ida was a devoted member of the Pine Tree Church of Christ and enjoyed attending services there. In the early 1970's, Ida opened the White Oak Flower Shop and successfully ran the flower shop for several years. In her retirement years, Ida and Rags were members (and later President and First Lady) of The East Texas Lakes Unit of the Wally Byam Travel Club and toured all over North America in their Airstream Trailer. She was a member of the Longview Pilot Club and a lifetime member of the White Oak Community Club. She loved to cook for her family, play cards with friends, and watch her Dallas Cowboys.
She is survived by one sister, Marcell Snow, of Shady Grove, Texas; three children, Ouida Williamson Ashworth; Jimmy Glen Williamson and wife Carla; and Robert Wayne Williamson and wife Carol. And multiple grandchildren, Marcus Ashworth and wife Leigh, Brian Ashworth and wife Dawn, Thomas Ragland Williamson and wife Katie, James Williamson, John Williamson, Courtney Wilson, and Caine Wilson. And great-grandchildren Anna Ashworth, William Ashworth, James Ashworth, Andrew Ashworth, Hayden Ashworth, and Sophie Ashworth.
Visitation will be Friday evening December 4th, 2015 from 6 to 8 pm at Rader Funeral Home in Longview, Texas. The funeral service will be Saturday December 5th at 10 am at Rader Funeral Home with burial to follow at White Oak Cemetery.
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