Judson Roy “J.R.” Williams

Born August 9, 1922, to a Texas minister/sharecropper and a former one-room teacher, Judson Roy “J.R.” Williams, was the sixth of eight children.

During the Depression, the family rode in the back of their truck to work in the canneries of California, but eventually returned to rural Donley County, where he met Margaret Jean Leathers. She fell for him when he sang “Beautiful Dreamer” in a high school quartet. They married in 1943 while he was serving in WWII. He lost two brothers in that war and a third was held for months in a Nazi camp.

After his service, he obtained a degree in education. J.R. also received his master’s degree and his administrative certificate. He taught high school and college Spanish and was a basketball coach in Colorado, Texas, and Arizona. He served as a principal in Pagosa Springs, Colorado, Red Mesa AZ High School, and taught many history and civics classes. He fervently valued democracy and civil rights. He was drawn to the underdog. As an educator, he sought fairness. Always a keen sports fan, J.R. was known to write letters to the NFL and NBA about his views on referee calls. He owned and operated health food stores in Durango and New Mexico.

Quick-witted and charming, he worked at the Mesa Verde Museum, the Colorado Welcome Center, looked after his bird feeders, set lofty goals for his questionable carpentry skills, and talked politics. He lived near Dove Creek, Colorado, where he began his teaching career. In his last years, J.R. replaced “thank you” with “bless you”. He was a blessing to multitudes of students who benefitted from his confidence in the worth of a good education and a strong work ethic.

Mr. Williams is survived by his son, Jan, and his daughter, Sharon McAnear. He is also survived by his granddaughter, Jaylyn Richards, and his grandsons, Joshua, Jeremy, Gabriel, and Daniel Tate, as well as eleven great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his dear wife, Jean, and his loving son, Jay. He died April 24, 2021 at Mercy Regional Medical Center in Durango, Colorado; graveside services are pending at the Kline Cemetery.