Ella Williams

          Ella Lee Williams, 87, beloved sister, mother, grandmother, and longtime Liberty resident, passed away peacefully surrounded by family and friends joining her Lord and Savior on December 15, 2023.

          Ella was born July 1936, in Edgerton, MO, the eldest of seven children of Glenn and May Groom.  She grew up in Gower, MO, graduating from Gower High School in 1954.

          Ella was married to Kenneth Wayne Barnett on November 24, 1954, and they had four children, Tracy, Terry, Cezanne, and Michael Kent. She was later married 26 years to Buddy Lee Williams, who preceded her in death on August 28, 2013.  She was also preceded in death by her parents and two siblings, Bill Groom, and Glenda Curtner.

          Survivors include her siblings, Betty Anderson (Charles Lee), Sherri Lilly (Patt), Bob Groom, Ben Groom (Sherrie); sister-in-law Diane Groom; children, Tracy Adams (Roy), Terry Davenport (Ron), Cezanne Amos (Rick), and Michael Kent Barnett (Diana); step daughter, Wendy Mashburn (Cole); grandchildren, Tyler (Alie), Tayler, Kalina (Larry), Brittany (Clay), Cole (Rachel), and Paige (Josh), Jenna, Anna and Josh; great grandchildren, Shayla, Jaxson, Makel, Nashville, Whit, Cassidy, Theodore, Jesse, Taia, Bowen, and  many nieces, nephews, other family members and friends.

Ella retired from the Clay County Sheriff’s Department after more than a decade of service.  She had a heart and talent for helping and blessing others.  She loved cooking, sewing, painting, volunteering at church, and football, but more than anything, Ella loved her family.  She always looked forward to weekly Thursday night dinners when family would gather to enjoy her cooking and share about the week.  Ella was a very talented seamstress. Her most cherished projects were sewing for weddings and making costumes for church pageants and productions.  She enjoyed tole painting and blessed many family and friends with beautiful pieces.  She was a long-time member of the Red Hat Society and enjoyed spending time with “The Classy Dahling” friends.  When she was younger, she volunteered regularly for the Republican Party Caucus—a passion she carried throughout her life.  She was an avid football fan who loved cheering on the Kansas City Chiefs and rather enjoyed the experience of them winning three championships. Ella will be greatly missed and fondly celebrated, a rare embodiment of both elegance and grace.

          Visitation will begin at 10:00 am, followed by a service celebrating Ella’s life at 11:00 am, on Friday, December 29, at Park Lawn Northland Chapel, I-35 at State Route 291, Liberty, MO.  Interment in Glenridge Cemetery.  

          You may share a memory with the family and sign an online guest book via www.parklawnfunerals.com.  Arrangements: Park Lawn Northland Chapel (816) 781-8228.