Larry Monroe Williams

Larry Monroe Williams went to his heavenly home on Jan. 5, 2022.

Larry was born in San Pedro, California, on March 13, 1937, to Willie Boy Williams and Lucille (Aldredge) Williams.

Larry graduated from Thorndale High School in 1956, then married his high school sweetheart Mary “Sissy” Youngblood.

He was a hard worker and a jack of all trades; fondly known to his family as “The Salty MacGyver.”

After graduation he worked at Alcoa, but after several layoffs he and Sissy moved to Odessa and there he worked in the oil fields and worked at Plastic Applicators.

Returning to Rockdale, he and Sissy ran a service station for a couple years on the corner of Wilcox and US 79, where the city hall building stands today. Then he and Sissy bought the little neighborhood store on Wilcox and Murray in 1960. Larry then built a new grocery store and ran it for 23 years and named it Midway Grocery.

After retiring from the grocery store business, he and Sissy traveled for two years then settled down in Bullhead City, Arizona. There he worked at Don Laughlin’s Riverside Resort & Casino in Laughlin, Nevada, where he was the manager for the hard count department for 14 years.

In 2002, Larry and Sissy moved back home to Rockdale on their farm and he and his son, Scott, went into the chicken business together for 12 years. He started his hay business as well and ran that for 10 years and designed and built their custom home with the help of his son and his uncle.

After suffering a stroke, which affected his eyesight, he and Sissy enjoyed living on the farm and being with their kids and grandkids.

Larry was preceded in death by his parents, Willie Boy and Lucille Williams; two sisters, Yvonne Yount and Carolyn Burford; a brother, Willie Lee Williams; and a grandson, Michael Culbertson.

Surviving is his best friend and loving wife, Mary “Sissy” Youngblood Williams of Rockdale; their son, Larry “Scott” Williams and wife Tammi of Rockdale; their daughter, Serena Williams Culbertson of Rockdale; seven grandchildren, Larry Culbertson of Rockdale, Robert Culbertson III of Webster, Melinda Culbertson Leavitt of Meridian, Idaho, Jonathan Chase “JC” Williams of Jerrell, Jordan Williams of Valley Mills, Brandon Bomer of Rockdale and Alexandra Bomer of Rockdale; and 11 great-grandchildren, Emilee Leavitt, Erica Leavitt, Erin Leavitt, Caleb Leavitt, Elissa Leavitt and Cambree Leavitt all of Meridian, Idaho, Caroline Bomer of Rockdale, Brynlynn Hassan, Bryce Williams both of Jerrell, Cashiana Noack and Lawson Culbertson of Thorndale.

He is also survived by his brother, Bill Williams and wife Sally of San Gabriel.

Memorial services for Mr. Williams will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 12, at Phillips & Luckey Funeral Home in Rockdale.

Arrangements by Phillips & Luckey Funeral Home, P.O. Drawer 1417, Rockdale, TX 76567, 512-446-5454.