CORA ANNA WILLIAMS

1933 - 2018

Cora Anna Williams, 85, passed away on June 17, 2018 at Renown Hospital in Reno, NV surrounded by her family.
Cora was born on January 24, 1933 to Raymond and Tilda Hamby in Aldridge, MO. She was the youngest of four children; her brothers, Robert, Bill, and Gene. When she was a young girl, Cora and her family moved from Missouri to California, where Cora attended schools and graduated from Nordhoff High School in Ojai, CA. She graduated in 1951 at the top of her class.

While living in Ojai she met the love of her life, Monte, while she
worked at Bank of America. Cora and Monte married after a year long courtship on October 13 in Las Vegas, NV at The Little Chapel Around the Corner. After the births of their ?rst and second children, Cora and Monte leased a small grocery store in Ojai for a year, which Cora helped Monte run. After the births of their third, fourth and ?fth children, Cora stayed home to raise their growing family while Monte went on to work for Nason Tobey in Ojai.

Cora and Monte raised their ?ve children, Marty, Lorie, Larry, Lisa and Mona in Ojai. In 1969 Tobey offered Monte an opportunity to further his career by moving to Bishop, CA to work at Joseph's Bi-Rite Market. Cora and Monte decided to relocate their family to Bishop, one of the family's favorite vacationing spots. Cora continued to be a stay at home mom until the early 1970s when she became a Secretary at Petroline Gas Company. She worked up until May 1976 when she and Monte purchased Joseph's Bi-Rite Market. Not only was Cora the main
bookkeeper at Joseph's for 42 years, but she wore many different hats to the employees and community; she was a second mother, sister, fashion icon, life coach, nurturing, loving, caring, friend and an inspiring and positive role model. She always put others ?rst. Over the course of her and Monte's ownership, all ?ve children, most of the children's spouses, and most of the grandchildren have all worked at the market.
Cora and Monte were generous supporters and constantly giving to the local community. She attended the Jr. Livestock Auction and was always a top buyer. She donated to various organizations such as The Salvation Army, The Bishop Little League, Eastern Sierra Softball, AYSO, the local schools, the Boys & Girls Scouts of America, charity runs/walks, 4-H & FFA, The Elks Club and the NIH Ladies Auxiliary. Wherever she was, Cora loved people and socializing with others which lead to long-lasting friendships.

Cora lived a full and abundant life. She and Monte enjoyed camping, dancing, going on many cruises, some of which included with Uni?ed Grocers Members and trips. Cora loved traveling with Monte all over the world which included Reno, Ireland, Alaska, and a 50th Anniversary gift from their children a
cruise to the Panama Canal. It didn't matter where they were as long as Cora was with Monte. Cora always made sure to buy souvenirs for herself and her family to always cherish the memories of their travels.

Cora also looked forward to her one day off a week, Sunday, to relax at home and enjoy brunch on her back patio with the love of her life, Monte. Cora instilled the importance of family, education, honesty, respect, trust, hard work and lived that to her fullest until the day she passed. Cora was a loving wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, great- grandmother, aunt, sister, and friend.

Cora is preceded in death by her husband Monte; parents, Raymond and Tilda; brothers, Robert and Gene and daughter, Lorie Kay. Cora is survived by son, Marty and wife, Marcy Williams, their two children Cory Williams and Ashley Diaz (Williams) and her husband Rene Diaz; their children, Andrew, Bonnie, Isabel, Jolie, and Ashlynn; grandchildren, Samantha Nelums, Jeff Nelums and his wife, Breanne Nelums; son, Larry
Williams; daughter, Lisa and husband, Dale Pitman; their three children Elizabeth Pitman, Dale Pitman Jr. and Heidi Taylor (Pitman) and her husband, Dustin Taylor; their two children, Brooke and Austin; daughter, Mona and her husband, Pedro Velazquez; their children, Miranda Curtis, Connie, Abby and Brenton Velazquez; brother, Bill Hamby and Gwen; sister-in-law, Katie Williams and many nieces and nephews.

There will be a viewing on Friday, July6, 2018 from 10:00am - 5:00pm at Brune Mortuary, 325 W. Elm St, Bishop, CA. The service is on Saturday, July 7, 2018 at 11:00am at The First United Methodist Church, 205 N Fowler, Bishop, CA with a graveside service at East Line Street Cemetery. The family thanks you for your attendance. In lieu of ?owers, the family requests donations be made in honor of Cora to Northern and Southern Inyo Hospitals Ladies Auxiliary
Equipment Fund.