Twila J. Williams

July 7, 1933 — January 1, 2024

Kalispell, Montana

TWILA JEAN WILLIAMS was born July 7, 1933, in Elk City, Oklahoma, to Sam Houston and Ledger Mae Burke Anders of Fruitvale, Van Zandt County, Texas and granddaughter of William Martin and Rachel Rebecca Anders Fruitvale, Van Zandt County, Texas and great-granddaughter of Jonathan and Nancy E. Andrews/Anders of Arcadia, Bienville Parish, Louisiana. She left this world for her home in heaven on January 1, 2024, in Kalispell, Montana. At the age of 9, she moved with her family from Oklahoma to Delano, California, where she married James (Jim) Williams in 1950. There were a lot of family! Twila had 6 siblings, and Jim had 10. Jim and Twila were the wanderers of the family. They moved - a lot – and lived all over the State of California in their 54 years of marriage. Twila was a hard worker. She was a successful saleswoman and also worked as a bookkeeper for many years. She was even able to support her family during the years Jim had suffered a serious illness. Most of all, she loved Jesus. She always sought out the love and support of a church family, wherever she lived. Once Jim retired, they purchased a motor home and traveled all over the nation. They enjoyed visiting family and attending bluegrass festivals. Twila decided to take up playing the guitar and auto harp at that time. She enjoyed her hobby for many years. They eventually returned to the San Joaquin Valley and settled in Bakersfield.

In 2007, after Jim passed, Twila decided to take one more adventure and moved to Montana to be near her daughter, Karen. During her nearly 17 years in Montana, she lived in Great Falls and Kalispell. One of the most notable things about Twila was her ability to love people well and make friends anywhere she went!

Twila is survived and greatly loved by her three children: Sam Williams, Derek Williams (Cindy), and Karen Engman (Gary), eight grandchildren: Chris Ward (Eddie), Rachael Cherry (Daniel), Kathryn Burns (Brandon), Amanda Engman, Sara Robertson (Brian), Melissa Thompson (Nic), Cord Williams (Nicole), and Kristen Burdette (Ben). (There was always great debate among the grandchildren about who was the most loved, so this list is ordered by age and does not reflect who were her favorites!) She is also survived by 19 great-grandchildren and leaves behind countless friends from all over the nation.

In the last 20 months of her life, Twila lived at Prestige Assisted Living. Her family is forever grateful for the loving friends and caretakers there, her church family at New Life Center, as well as the staff at Brendan House, who so lovingly helped see her through her last days.

A graveside service will be held January 16, 2024, at 1:00 pm., at the North Kern Cemetery, in Delano, California, where she will be laid to rest next to Jim.