Lillian Rose Williams

Lillian Rose Williams, age 80, passed away peacefully on February 28, 2026. She was born on December 12, 1945, in Killeen, Texas.

Lillian grew up spending time between her mother's home in Houston and her grandmother in Mexia, Texas. She attended Mexia High School and a Catholic boarding school in Dallas. The boarding school is where she first learned to cook with meager donated items - think baby food and canned biscuits turned into a vegetable pot pie for a couple of hundred people. Her best dish, by a unanimous vote of her children, was her chicken fried steak and gravy, with "Imaginary Pie" coming in as a close second and always requested anytime any of them went to see her. She instilled the belief that cooking is an act of love in her children and grandchildren.

In her younger life, Lillian worked various jobs, one of which was at a manufacturing plant that made parts that went on the Apollo 8 mission to the moon, which legend says is still up there somewhere.

In 1976, Lillian and her family moved to Pilot Point, Texas. There she quickly made lifelong friends of Martha Raye Pels and Jeannette Benson, among many others. While working at the Pilot Point Post Signal and driving a school bus part time, she took part-time classes and earned her journalism degree at Texas Women's University. Several years later, she began her own paper, aptly named "The Horse's Mouth," and copyrighted the phrase "Horse Country USA." She was also an artist, working in many different mediums, but painting was her favorite. She once planted a "few" gourd seeds in her oldest daughter's backyard so she wouldn't have to buy gourds to paint. Those few seeds took over half an acre near the house. Those who knew her either loved her, or they did not. Her razor-sharp wit came through in her writing and her words. She was fiercely protective of her family and friends, and you always knew where you stood with Lillian.

Lillian loved to garden; her backyard was an oasis for humans and all kinds of animals. She grew her own vegetables, as well as her favorite Lady Banks roses. She was also a cunning and ruthless Spades partner. She made a point to expose her children and grandchildren to all kinds of music, culture, and foods. The light of her life was her granddaughter Lauren, whom she helped bring into this world.

One of her all-time favorite books was "The Velveteen Rabbit." She has finally become Real... she always was and always will be.

Lillian was preceded in death by Leonard Williams and Margaret Stuart.

She leaves behind a legacy woven with love, wit, and fierce devotion to family. She is survived by her children, Monica Gower, Larry Slaughter, and Amanda Slaughter; her beloved grandchildren, Lauren Burchett, Sydney Wynn, Heather Rowinsky, and Madison Teague; and her cousin, Archie Archibald. The world is a little less bright without her, but her spirit will always be with those who knew and loved her.

Celebrating her life will take place at Slay Memorial Funeral Center. There will be a visitation beginning at 6:00 p.m. Following her wishes, her remains will be cremated.

Arrangements are under the direction of Terri Slay and Slay Memorial Funeral Center.