Louis M. Williams, Jr., 81, of Beaumont, died Monday, September 12, 2011. A native and lifelong resident of Beaumont, Louis was born January 12, 1930, to Nell Mae Brown and Louis Matthew Williams, Sr.
Louis attended Beaumont High School and was a graduate of both Lamar Institute of Technology and Commonwealth College of Mortuary Science; he was also a United States Navy Veteran. He and his late brother Wallace were partners in L.M. Williams and Sons Funeral Directors and Williams Ambulance Service; companies founded by their father in 1942. A former world champion outboard-motor boat racer, Louis served as chairman of the boat racing program of the Neches River Festival for more than 20 years before eventually becoming the festival's community events coordinator. He was a fifty year member of Tolerance Lodge 1165 AF & AM and the El Mina Shrine.
His stepson, Randolph Thomas Roane; niece, Anne E. Williams-Schrang; and brother and parents preceded him in death.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Reed Williams; son, Louis Matthew Williams III and his wife, Andrea and their children, Louis Wilson Williams and John Randolph Williams; three stepsons and their families: William Arthur Roane and his wife, Sally and their children, William Thomas Roane and Jed Arthur Roane and their grand-child, Abigaile Jourdan Roane; James Fant Roane II and his wife Dena; Stephen Christopher Roane and his wife, Rachael and their children, Terrell Christopher Roane, Cameron Cunningham Low Roane, Connor Gilbert Roane, Mary Margaret Roane, and Catherine Callie Roane; sister-in-law, Nell Florey Williams; nephew, Wallace D. Williams, Jr.; cousins, Sassy Soper and Margaret Sample and her husband, Don; and grand-dog, Bumper T. Williams.
His funeral service will be 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, September 14, 2011, at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 680 Calder Avenue, Beaumont, with a graveside service to follow at 4:00 p.m. in Magnolia Cemetery, under the direction of Broussard's, 2000 McFaddin Avenue, Beaumont. A gathering of his family and friends will follow his service in the Cloister Room at the church.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 680 Calder Avenue, Beaumont, Texas 77701 www.stmarksbeaumont.org; Humane Society of Southeast Texas, P.O. Box 1629, Beaumont, Texas 77704 www.petsforpeople.org; or Shriners Hospitals for Children, 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, Florida 33607 www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org.
