Doris Faye Williams

Describing herself as "just a homemaker," Doris Faye Kinkaid Williams was far more than that. Born on September 26, 1936, she was the daughter of Hildred Kehn and Robert John Kinkaid. In her youth, Doris excelled as a championship roller skater, competing at the national level. Additionally, her beautiful singing voice was honed through training at the Sorbonne in Paris. She passionately led and participated in choirs in various churches and communities worldwide, including recent involvement with the Huntsville Community Choir and All Saints Lutheran Church. As a devoted wife to Lt. Col. Gerald Williams (ret), a retired USAF officer who passed away May 11, 2010. Doris was by him for 54 years, accompanying him to different military bases every 2-3 years, while their family grew in size. Doris possessed an impressive linguistic aptitude, as she learned the languages of each country she visited. Beyond practicality, she pursued this skill out of pure curiosity and eventually became proficient in ten languages. Her passion for cultural appreciation and history transformed her into a diplomat of sorts, instilling these values in her family. Doris treated everyone she encountered with dignity and respect, whether it was sharing a desert picnic with a village chieftain or attending the coronation of the Shah of Iran. A dedicated scout leader, Doris initiated scouting programs wherever she resided, playing a pivotal role in training generations of community leaders, including astronaut Mike Hopkins, across four countries and three states. She was delighted when her grandson Nathaniel attained the rank of Eagle Scout. Her love for nature extended to her role as a naturalist. She adored nurturing and growing plants, animals, and people. Her home featured her own photographs capturing the beauty of nature. Doris embraced a menagerie of pets, ranging from snakes to pigs and baby farm animals. Her commitment to organic farming preceded its popularity by fifty years. In fact, her expertise in flowers led to the creation of a newspaper column titled "Wildflowers by the Wayside." Doris had an insatiable appetite for learning, engaging in meticulous research and documentation while compiling an extensive family genealogy. She felt immense joy whenever she discovered and connected with a new relative. Instead of indulging in novels, she found solace in non-fiction books, relishing the opportunity to acquire new knowledge. She met a new love, Ron Staschke, at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute in 2013. He died August 9, 2014. When she could no longer participate in OLLI, she took it upon herself to purchase college-level textbooks (like chemistry) and a language app to self-study. Among her many accomplishments, Doris was proudest of her family. She was a proud mother to five children: Susan Aycock (Melvin), Carolgene Willis (Mike), Joanne Williams (deceased), Charles Williams (Janelle), and Gerald Williams Jr. (Cynthia). Furthermore, she delighted in being a grandmother of twelve: Amanda Boykin (Justin), Matthew Aycock (Jean), Nathaniel Aycock, Chris Randall (Amy), Kimberly Randall, Dawson Williams, (Nikki) Myra Williams, Truman Williams, Nolan Williams, Courtney Eschmann (Casey), Spencer Williams, and Morgan Williams. Doris also cherished her role as a great-grandmother to eight children: Tug, Micah & Madeline Phillips, Sophie & Hattie Randall, and Miriam, Samuel, Jeremiah & Jesse Aycock. A private interment will be held at Richland Cemetery, Richland, MO, at 10:00 am on May 30, 2026

Doris Faye Williams

September 26, 1936 - May 16, 2023