Carl Williams

Carl Joe Williams, 78, of Hale Center, passed away on Friday, May 2, 2025, in Plainview, Texas, following medical complications from a fall. He loved music, math, and watching the west Texas skies from his porch out in the country.

Carl Joe was born on April 30, 1947, in Plainview, Texas, to Carl Coleman and Lucia Gertrude Ormsby Williams. He attended Hale Center schools and graduated from Plainview High School in 1965. Carl was active in the band, playing both tenor and alto saxophones, and made the All-State band all four years of high school. He attended Texas Tech and finished his degree in music education from West Texas State University, where he was in the Kappa Kappa Psi and Phi Mu Alpha fraternity. While at WT, he met the love of his life one night while trying to get a stray cat to stop coming in his apartment window. He said that he 'got lucky' when he married Karlene Renee Wood, on December 28, 1969, in Memphis, Texas and they lived in El Paso where he was stationed with the 62nd Band at Fort Bliss. Their son, Mark, was born prior to his discharge from the Army, in 1972. Carl Joe was the band director for Happy High school for one year prior to returning to surveying and moving the family to Houston, Texas where his daughter, Mary was born. The family moved to the Williams' farm in Hale Center in 1976 and he worked with his father at the Hale County Surveyor's office until Carl Coleman's death in 1980. Following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, Carl Joe was then elected and served as the Hale County Surveyor for over 40 years, becoming the third generation Williams to hold this office. He retired in January of 2023 and is known throughout the state for his cartography skills and meticulous attention to detail.

Holding true to his love of music, Carl Joe played the oboe in the Plainview Symphony Orchestra and guest performances at churches and programs in the area. He could play any instrument with the exception of the cello which he never could master! His favorites included piano, guitar, saxophone, and oboe. He also enjoyed complex math and was frequently heard mumbling numbers as he worked trigonometry problems in his head. Carl Joe served on several civic and genealogical organizations such as Plainview Lion's Club, Unger Memorial Library, James Town Society, Historical Commission, and High Plains Genealogical Society.

Carl Joe is survived by his son Mark C. Williams and his wife Keri of Brownfield, Texas, their children Bethany "West" of Colorado and Katie and Holly of Brownfield and a daughter Mary K. Williams Steen and her husband Michael Lynn Steen with their sons, John and Michael of Plano, Texas and William at US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. His sister, Lucia McBeth and husband Ferman "Sonny" of Kress, Texas and brother-in-law Lloyd Louthan of Hale Center and several cousins, nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Gertrude; his sister Margaret Louthan; brother John Mark Williams, and his wife, Renee Williams.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the WT Music Department, High Plains Genealogical Society, or the PHS Class of 65.

Graveside services will be held June 25, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., at Plainview Cemetery, in Plainview, with a reception to follow and under the care of Ramage Funeral Directors.

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