Troy L. Williams

Troy Lee Williams, beloved husband of Gail Williams, father of Teresa Williams Luther and Brenda Williams Bailey passed away at his home on December 4, 2024.

Troy was born on May 21, 1949, to Robert (Bob) and Evelyn Louise Williams in Burlington Colorado. Bob and Louise moved to Bethune where Troy participated in sports and made lifelong friends. He kept in touch with these classmates throughout his adult life.

In 1967 his life changed forever, it was at this time that he met a fiery redhead from the south, Linda Gail Clayton. He stated from the first time that he met this woman he was going to marry her. Sure, enough on October 27, 1968, they married in Earth, Texas at his now sister-in-law’s house. Many families from Bethune and Burlington traveled to Texas to see this union be blessed. However, shortly after the honeymoon in March of 1969 Troy’s number was drawn and he was drafted into the US Army.

Troy completed his basic training in Ft Ord California, he has stated many times that when the trucks carrying all the new privates stopped in the training area their whole world changed. It was during his fifth week at basic when the entire battalion went to take their aptitude tests to see what they were going to do during the Vietnam War. What Troy found out was that he was going to be a Military Police man or MP.

After graduating from basic Troy was loaded into another plane and taken to Ft Gordon GA to complete his training for MP. From there he went to Ft Lewis WA to get new uniforms and their orders for their final destination; out of the 180 men all but 40 went to Vietnam. Troy was one of the 40 that got sent to South Korea. Troy has always said that he enjoyed his time in the Army and was grateful for the chance to serve his country.

After his tour was finished Troy came back to Bethune to continue with his life with his bride. He worked at Coast to Coast for a while but because he had grown up working with his dad contracting, he wanted to continue that dream. But another dream came true in 1975 when Troy and Gail adopted two beautiful girls. They weren’t too sure if they could adopt two kids but when Brenda looked up at him and asked him to fix her little necklace that got broken that was the end. They had to have both of these little girls.

Troy continued to build houses with his dad and do remodeling jobs for people around the community. But things changed when the housing market dropped, he then had the opportunity to become “The Pole Man”. In 1986 Troy bid and accepted a contract to pull expired REA poles. He did this throughout Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado, employing many fine helpers and of course family. It was then that he and his dad started up Williams’ Sawmill.

Troy then decided that he didn’t want to be away from home so much and started sawing the poles and taking the odd contracting job here and there. It was during this time that the grandkids started. You could always find him wearing a silly hat or having make up applied to him from his granddaughters. He was always willing to let them put little ponytails in. It was also during this time that he fell in love with the game of golf!

If you couldn’t get ahold of Troy at home, you knew that you could find him at the golf course. He studied the game and perfected it. He was able to get numerous hole in one’s and was always willing to play for those dollars with his buddies.

Next came the best gift of all, he was a great grandpa! This was the best gift to him that anyone could ever give him. He loved his great grandkids most of all and always had a special hug and gift for them. Even if the gift was just a box of chips and candy or a big truck.

Troy was loved and will be missed by many. He was preceded in death by the love of his life, Gail, Father Bob Williams, sisters Peggy Witzel and Janet Davis. He is survived by his mother Louise Williams, daughter Teresa Luther, daughter Brenda (Greg) Bailey, His  brother Ray (Cathy) Williams of Delta, Colorado, sister Jackie (Steve) Klee of Florida, and brother Pat (Barb) Williams of Florida.  Grandkids Jake DiFiore, Alyssa Balandran, Torrie DiFiore and fiancé Andrew, Jennifer Halligan and spouse Austin Halligan, Amanda Richardson, Joseph Bailey and Kaylee Bailey. Eleven great grandkids and many nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles. He will also be missed by many friends and all his golf buddies.