John Robert “Johnny Bob” Williams

John Robert “Johnny Bob” Williams, age 77, of Maysville, Oklahoma, was born in Evansville, Indiana, on June 21, 1946, to John Roscoe and Rosemary Ann (Taylor) Williams. On Friday, April 19, 2024, surrounded by his loving family, he was called Home by his Heavenly Father for all Eternity. Johnny Bob, as he was affectionately known, was a citizen of the Choctaw Nation and proud of his Native American Heritage. His family moved from Crossville, Illinois, to Maysville in 1949, where his dad was employed by the Warren Petroleum Plant. He attended Story School and Maysville Public Schools where he graduated in 1964. After dating his high school sweetheart for seven years, Johnny Bob married Bobby Lou Winans on September 12, 1969. Johnny Bob later graduated from East Central University in 1970, with a degree in secondary education. While there he enjoyed his time as activities director at First Baptist Church, Ada, Oklahoma. In 1972, Johnny Bob graduated from the Dallas Institute of Mortuary Science becoming a licensed embalmer/funeral director. In 1972, Johnny Bob and Bobby Lou together became owners of Winans Funeral Home and operated it until 2015 for a total of 43 years of service. During this time Johnny Bob also acted as the Maysville Ambulance Director for 25 years. In 2023, he earned his 50-year pin for service in the funeral service industry from the Oklahoma Funeral Directors Association of which he was a proud member.

During his lifetime, Johnny Bob was very civic minded and wore many hats in his community. One of his most treasured times was dressing up as Santa Claus and visiting numerous children and families on Christmas Eve. He found mowing grass therapeutic and would mow yards all over town earning the title of “The Mowing Missionary.” He was a member of the Maysville Kiwanis Club serving as Lt. Governor of District 25, a Maysville School Board Member for 25 years, a Maysville Volunteer Firemen retiring after 20 years of service, he served as the Maysville Cemetery Sexton for 50-plus years along with serving on the board of trustees for the Maysville Educational Foundation. He was instrumental in helping to bring our current City Library to town and overseeing the construction of the Pavilion adjacent to the cemetery. Johnny Bob was also proud of his service in the Oklahoma National Guard.

Johnny Bob loved his family and was very proud of all their many accomplishments. He enjoyed gospel music, reading books, watching westerns on television, visiting with his coffee shop buddies and telling many stories about his hometown. Everyone loved hearing a good “Johnny Bob Story”, and he could tell one like no other. He was a one of a kind and loved by many.

Johnny Bob was a longtime member of the First Baptist Church where he served as a deacon, taught Sunday School and worked with the children’s program on Wednesday nights.

Those left to cherish his memories are his wife of 54 years, Bobby Lou of the home; children, John Winans Williams and wife, Theresa, of Maysville, Oklahoma, Bradford Brown Williams and wife, Jerri, of Frisco, Texas; and Elizabeth “Libby” Gandy and husband, Ken, of Ada, Oklahoma; grandchildren, Connor Williams and wife, Anna, John Ross Williams, Molly Williams, Rian Williams, Peri Thomas, Cedar Thomas, Abbie Gandy, Emma Gandy and by many, many dear friends made throughout the years.

Johnny Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Roscoe and Rosemary Williams and his brother, Ricky Williams.

The family would like to extend a special thank-you to Life Spring Hospice for their support and comfort care.

A Going Home Celebration for Johnny Bob will be held Friday, April 26, 2024, at the First Baptist Church of Maysville, Oklahoma, at 1 p.m., with Bro. Charley Henthorn, Bro. Danny Gamble and Bro. Brent Higgins officiating. Burial will follow at Maysville Cemetery, Maysville, Oklahoma. Services and arrangements are under the direction of John W. Williams of Winans Funeral Home, Maysville.

In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to the Maysville Education Foundation, PO Box 850, Maysville, OK 73057