Today in Pryor Oklahoma, there will be a celebration of life service for two amazing people. Two fixtures of my childhood that left this earth way too early. I could go on and on about my memories of Ivan and Adina, but I thought I would just pass along a letter my parents wrote in the wake of their passing this week. It’s beautiful and captures the essence of these pillars of my hometown. Today my thoughts and prayers are dedicated to the four men these two leave behind. I.B., Barrett, Christopher and Marty. May God hold each of you in the palm of His hand. And Ivan, you were a GREAT man and I am very sad that you are gone…. Thank you for always greeting me with a smile, encouraging me and building me up.
Dear Family,
It has been my pleasure to know Ivan for over 20 years. I know you will hear many stories about Ivan but I wanted to give you the perspective of a Baptist pastor who interfaced with Ivan very closely for over 14 years. It was an honor for me to have a close friend who was not a part of the Baptist church. My observations are not from the perspective of a pastor to parishioner but from one friend to another, yes, an Episcopalian and a Baptist. We even talked about a Baptist minister performing his wedding ceremony…
Ivan Williams may have had more influence on the Baptist Church than anyone who was not a Baptist in Pryor Creek. To begin with, Williams Construction built the Educational building that proudly stands today. I remember well how Ivan sacrificed personally for our church so we could have the building we wanted. At one time in the building process there was an issue with the roof and Ivan took care of the problem at his own expense.
As a neighbor we absolutely loved living down the street from the Williams. We had a common relationship with the family dog (Oowa). Every time it would storm Oowa found his way into our garage. I will never forget when Adina came to our door and told me my son had fallen out of their tree. She got my attention when she told me he was unconscious and an ambulance had been called. Ivan always took such good care of children. He was our soccer coach for a few years. While the “Wildcats” did not win any championships, our boys witnessed a leader who taught them the things that mattered, like sportsmanship and team effort. Our children, Lance and Leah, fondly remember hours spent in the equipment shack on the 10 acre flat (now the beautiful park). Barrett, Patrick Considine and Lance turned the hut into their clubhouse and terrorized our daughter and Megan Considine by not allowing them in…
My wife taught three of the Williams’ boys in school and remembers particularly the wonderful Santa suit they dressed Marty in for the third grade Christmas program. Pam also taught them piano and loved seeing Ivan’s and Adina’s face at recital time as they beamed with pride. We will always remember how Ivan had a pumpkin in the yard at Halloween for each boy.
Pam also recalled how once in the middle of the night when I was out of town, she became certain that someone was prowling around our house. Who did she call??? Ivan, and here he came, big flashlight in hand, roaming the dangerous neighborhood of Brynnwood. But his protection didn’t stop with his exhaustive search around our house, he then called the police and told them to patrol regularly through the night.
On a personal note I was privileged to play basketball with Ivan most every week for about 5 years. We played, read the Bible and had a time of prayer. When my father died few people knew him in Pryor, but at the service in Ft Gibson, there was Ivan. When our children married, there was Ivan and Adina.
I have never met a kinder more gracious soul than Ivan Williams.
I know you will hear countless, wonderful reflections on the impact Ivan and Adina had upon lives…these are ours. They are precious to us and pray they will bring comfort to your hearts amidst unspeakable tragedy.
I close with a passage from scripture that has ministered peace to Pam and to me during dark days. We pray it brings grace and healing to your souls.
1 Corinthians 13:12
The Voice (VOICE)
12 For now, we can only see a dim and blurry picture of things, as when we stare into polished metal. I realize that everything I know is only part of the big picture. But one day, when Jesus arrives, we will see clearly, face-to-face. In that day, I will fully know just as I have been wholly known by God.
Wendell, Pam, Lance and Leah