Vera Rose Williams

Vera Speer Williams passed away at her daughter's residence on July 1st in Clifton, Texas at the age of 86 surrounded by her three daughters and close family. 

Services will be held at Lawson Funeral Home in Meridian, officiated by Sherry Pierce Minatra on Friday, July 5, 2024 at 10:00 A.M. Visitation will be held on July 4, 2024 at Lawson Funeral Home from 5:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. Vera will be laid to rest at Oak Grove Cemetery in Walnut Springs following the service.

Vera was born on February 27, 1938 in Milfay, Oklahoma. She was the first daughter of ten children born to Vernon Lee Hammond, Sr. and Dortha Mae McFarland Hammond. Vera helped her mother with the household responsibilities including cooking, which she did very well, and helped to raise her siblings. One memory her siblings often share is gathering under a large tree and listening to Vera make up stories to tell them or singing to distract them from other things. Vera and Donald met through Vera’s brother, Jerry. They were married on February 22, 1958. The couple lived in various places with Clifton being their final hometown. Donald passed away on June 18, 2012. He wanted Vera to find someone else to take care of as this is what she had done her whole life. Vera and Milton Williams married on September 14, 2013 as companions for one another, after each of their spouses had previously passed. Milton passed away on July 24, 2021. Vera had a servant’s heart and was willing to help others in any way she was able whether providing child care, giving a place to live, or nursing someone to health. She earned her LVN license at Goodall Witcher Hospital and later attended McLennan Community College to earn her RN license. Her career as a Registered Nurse took this servant’s heart to a whole other level for her patients through teaching, psych care and gerontology while mentoring other medical staff.

 Vera was preceded in death by triplet daughters, Earlene, Arlene and Darlene Speer; her parents: Vernon Lee Hammond, Sr. and Dorotha Mae Hammond; Husbands: Donald Gene Speer and Milton Charles Williams; Siblings: June Reed, Jackie Olsen, Vernon Lee (Jerry) Hammond, Jr.; and Granddaughter: Misty Rose Nelson Phillips.

Vera is survived by: Three daughters and sons-in-love: Lucy Nelson (Brad) of Crawford, Barbara Blake (Mike) of Laguna Park, Lisa Mitchell (Steve) of Houston. Step children and their spouses: Terry Brooks (David) of Clifton and Charlie Williams (Mary Jo) of McGregor. Sisters: Janie Eary (Barney), Mary Fielder, Liz Glenn, Sally Baker, Debbie Woods, and Becky Terrell, sister-in-love Norma Hammond, and brother-in-love Jim Reed. Grandchildren: Brandy Connor (Ryan), Angela Arthurs (David), Kristy Coward (Jimmy), John Lambert (Marilyn), Amber Wolfe (David), Jessica Nelson, and Kayla Guerra (Jeffery), and grandson-in-love Stephen Phillips. Great grandchildren: Brinley, Hailey, Nicky, Colin, Roxy, Robbie, Layne, Elijah, Leighton, Georgia, and Vera Faye, numerous step-grandchildren, step-great-grandchildren, other relatives and friends. 

Arrangements were entrusted to Lawson Funeral Home, Meridian, Texas 254-435-2792.