Dr. Donald Layne Williams

Dr. Donald Layne Williams,   60, died Wednesday, September 3, 2008, in Amarillo.

Celebration of life services were held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, September 5, at the First United Methodist Church in Clarendon with the Rev. Terry Lowe, officiating and Rev. Tom Garmon, assisting. A reception immediately followed the service. A private family burial was held in Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon. Services were under the arrangement of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon

Dr. Williams was born December 27, 1947, in Groom, to Horace and Mary Louise Williams. He attended White Deer schools and graduated in 1966. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture from West Texas State University in 1970. He earned a Master of Agricultural Economics in 1972 and a Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics from The University of Tennessee at Knoxville in 1975. Dr. Williams was an associate professor of Agricultural Business and Economics at West Texas A & M University for 34 years. He retired in June 2007. During his tenure at West Texas A & M University, he took many students to compete in Ag Economics quiz bowls around the country. He also took many student groups to over nine foreign countries, where he combined learning and pleasure. He served as a faculty sponsor of the Agricultural Business club, charter faculty advisor of Alpha Gamma Rho, temporary department head of Agricultural Business, a member of the Southern Agricultural Association to which he made several presentations on the Marketing of Agricultural Products and a member of the Professional Agriculture Economists of the United States. While attending WTSU as a student, he was a member of Alpha Chi. Dr. Williams was honored by being named the Outstanding Teacher in Agriculture by Alpha Zeta (a National Agricultural Honorary organization) on four occasions. As well as being active in academics, he was also involved in and a member of the First United Methodist Church, where he served on various boards and as a Sunday school teacher. For many years, he was active in the Kairos prison ministry and served on the state board. Dr. Williams will be remembered as a person who loved life and lived it to the fullest. He was dedicated to God, his family, and his students. He married Katherine Dunn Green in 1987. Together, they raised seven children on their ranch/farmland in Donley County.

He is survived by his wife, Katherine Williams; seven children, Mark Williams of Las Vegas, Nevada; Brad and Lani Williams of Canyon, Texas; Phillip and Synamon Williams of Fort Collins, Colorado; Kent Williams of Fort Collins, Colorado; David and Meagan Green of Panhandle, Texas; Clint Green of Amarillo, Texas; and Lindsay and Brent Wilhelm of Nazareth, Texas; one brother, Frank Williams and wife Colleen of Amarillo; a sister Lynette Zurline and husband Steve of Marshall, Texas; and four grandchildren, Skylar, Braxton, and Rhett Williams of Canyon, and Jaythan Green of Panhandle.

Memorials may be made to the Dr. Don Williams Scholarship Endowment c/o Tim Bynum, WTAMU Box 60766, Canyon, Texas, 79016 or the First United Methodist Church of Clarendon.
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