Joanie Gayle Williams' Obituary
On January 4, 2016, Joan Gayle “Joanie” Williams was called Home. Joanie was born on July 2, 1936 at St. Paul’s Hospital in Dallas, Texas to Marion Gayle and Pearl Mae Moore and sister, Amy. She grew up in East Dallas spending summers in Cisco, Texas chasing cousins, rabbits, and rattlesnakes. She attended Gaston Avenue Baptist Church where she was baptized at the age of eleven. She graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School where she met the love of her life, Johnny Williams, who delivered an exciting new adventure. After a three-year courtship, the couple was married on August 26, 1955 at the same church where she was baptized. Joanie designed and sewed her very own wedding dress and trousseau. Already firmly planted in East Dallas, the couple continued to sink roots in the area, eventually settling near Flag Pole Hill, where they raised three children – Kim, Kelly and Kirk. The kids graduated from Lake Highlands High School, and Joanie’s house continued to be a flurry of hospitality, parties, sleepovers, Bible studies, impromptu dinners, swim sessions, late night counseling and heartfelt discussions. Joanie naturally welcomed everyone and exuded both compassion and warmth. She could make an unexpected arrival of 20 people look like a long-planned affair. Joanie’s gifts were extended to Lake Texoma where she became the party “hub” and organizer of “all things fun” with her and Johnny’s boat friends. Along with hospitality, Joanie had an incredible gift of mercy which was demonstrated by her loving volunteer service to Children’s Medical Center. At least once a week for over 50 years, Joanie would selflessly serve the patients and families of the hospital then later recall how much she was blessed by the opportunity to love on people who were hurting. Joanie’s love showed no boundaries, whether it be leading a Girl Scout Troup, mending a dress or baseball pants, attending grandkids events, or consoling a long-time friend. Joanie loved all people and it clearly showed in her playful and wonderful spirit. Through it all, Joanie’s love for Johnny was her primary ministry. She loved him, served him and adored him. This love was evident by Joanie and Johnny’s recent 60th Wedding Anniversary. Everyone who knew Joanie was a recipient of her love and was blessed by the relationship. Joanie was preceded in death by her parents, Gayle and Pearl Moore, by her Brother-in-Law Bill Jones, and her nephew Brian Jones. She is survived by her husband, Johnny Williams, her daughters Kim Kotrla (Mike) and Kelly Norman (Ken), son Kirk Williams (Cindy), grandchildren Hallie Kotrla, Justin Kotrla (Ashley), Abbie Lynch (Mike), Wade Kotrla, Mackenzie Williams, Meyer Williams, Nikki Norman, great grandchildren Zoey Lynch, Ella Lynch, and Emmi Kotrla, close family friends Beaver, Kim, Jake and Sally Raymond, and an abundance of lake friends, church friends, Woodrow friends, Lake Highlands friends, Children’s friends, and many, many others. Honorary Pallbearers include Mike Lauffer, Beaver Raymond, J.W. Bowen, Joe Bob McCracken, Byrd Jennings, Brian Jones (John Owen). Visitation will be held from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM on January 7, 2016 at Restland. The Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 PM on January 8, 2016 at Fellowship Bible Church Dallas, 9330 North Central Expressway, Dallas, TX 75231. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that gifts in Joanie’s memory be made to Children’s Medical Center.
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