Birth date: Aug 25, 1914 Death date: Jul 26, 2013
Pastor Roy A. Williamson, age 98, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Friday morning, July 26, 2013. He was born August 25, 1914 in Chicago, IL to Alexander and Mabel (Barnett) Williamson; and came to Muskegon in 1946. He then Read Obituary
I am so thankful for the wonderful gift of having Roy Williamson as my father and I have 74 years of blessed memories with my Dad. In the last two months I've lost both my Dad and my Sister, and I thank God that I know where they both are and I know we will be together again. All my love, Phyllis Williamson-Bagwell
Doris, family members and friends,
We extend out high regard and joy for having known this Pastor, Mentor, Brother, and Friend - Roy Williamson - for many years. His certainly was a noble example of being a child of the King.
We are presently in Kansas for my niece's wedding. We are sorry to miss the "celebration of his graduation" as Pastor Bob Savage would put it. May the peace of God be with you all.
Jim&Toni Keck
Cheryl, now it's my turn to give YOU my condolences. Remember, you called me when my mother went to be with the Lord. We haven't seen each other for so many years, yet I have happy memories of spending time with you and also your dear family. I know you'll miss your dad, and that's OK. Before long I believe we'll be with our dear parents in Glory! Until then, we'll keep trusting HIM for strength for each day. Love, Marcia
Two things come to mind when I think of Roy, a gentle spirit, with wisdom and true love for those he knew, and cowboy hats. I loved Roy and will miss him he was truly the elder statesman of the Muskegon pastors fellowship.
(Here's some of what I shared on my Facebook page, as I reflected on Pastor Roy's significant role in my life....)
I had the great joy and privilege of ministering alongside Pastor Roy (minister to senior adults), as well as Pastor Lew (senior pastor), for more than two years at Lakeside Baptist Church in Muskegon. To say that Pastor Roy was one of the most delightful, wise, humble, and Godly men that I've ever known would be to say far too little about him.
He was a very dear brother in the Lord, and a beloved saint among the people of God. Pastor Roy blessed the lives of everyone who knew him - with encouragement, prayer, humor, and joy that are experienced far too rarely these days. When Karen and I dedicated our son, Luther, to the Lord at Lakeside, it was Pastor Roy who led that service, tenderly reminding everyone present of what a tremendous gift children are, and how crucial it is that we raise them to know, love, and serve our Lord.
I give thanks for every moment that my family and I got to spend with Pastor Roy. I was surely blessed by him far more than I realize, and I can only hope and pray that the Lord might permit me to have as long and as fruitful of a life as Pastor Roy. May God raise up many more men who love him as this dear brother did, and may those of us who knew him personally never forget the fine example that he set for us.
I dearly loved that man. He baptized me as a baby at Evanston Ave. Baptist where my folks, Gerald and June Kersting attended since childhood. I attended Giles Road Baptist also. When my mother was in THS nursing home in Fremont, he preformed the Sunday services which she attended. I remember my mother telling us how he would sometimes run overtime with his service at Evanston Ave. My grandma Kersting would look at her watch, hold it up so he could see it and point to it. He would then end his sermon. No one wanted to mess with grandma, not even Pastor Roy. He remarried my aunt and uncle after they divorced but sadly refused to marry me and my second husband. He said it went against his beliefs. I respected him for that. Patricia Kersting- Wood- Lemke
Muskegon, MI
Sincere condolence to the family, I was in the service in the late 60's in Alaska and attended his church there. Erine Hansen, Gary Bomgarts and others from the group I sing of thee stopped in Alaska on their way to Viet Nam and meet Pastor Roy and myself at the airport. He was an inspiration to me.
(Ron Micka) Son of the late George and Marie Micka
Grandpa Roy” lived a full life and accomplished what he set out to do. He kept "it real". This guy was a preacher, carpenter, hunter, fisher, lived for a while in Alaska, and was even a horse back rider. I was fortunate to have lots of great memories with him…like when I was 14 & 15 I would spend Sunday nights with him during the summer. Grandpa would preach, we would get ice cream after at the "whippie dip", then watch john wayne movies at his house….every Sunday night he would get his 357 stub nose magnum out and let me hold it while we watched cowboy movies (thats nirvana for a 14 year old). Next day he would abrasively awake me at 6am (he loved tipping over the couch I was sleeping on), and would then make me eat raisin brand cereal (yuck). We would leave by 6:30 am and pick up 50 cement blocks, then he would drive 35 miles an hour up to “the farm” in Hesperia (I would look out the rear view mirror in embarassment as there would be a long line of traffic behind us) where we would unload the blocks and start HAND DIGGING (in clay) the footings for the house he was building. Then we would go horseback riding. He even let me shoot that gun once. My ears rang for hours, all the while he had that smirk on his face. I cant wait to do this to my grandchild.
Oh yes, I would be remiss if I didnt mention for three years in a row he "let me" drag out his deer from the woods he shot in Hesperia. And yes, he had that same smirk on his face each year as he had filled his tag.... and i had not!
Grandpa had way of looking at you that could leave you feeling a bit bare. He created environments, as he wasnt much of a pencil pusher. He was the best preacher i've ever heard, and i have heard alot! His messages had "depth", and he spoke of the truth. He was a teacher and he impacted the lives of so many. Thats a great legacy.
BUT....His legacy wasnt just "his" alone. Doris swept into his life, bringing "fresh air" into my grandpas lungs. It was as though he was "alive" again when she "arrived". This wonderful woman engaged him. She gave him a purpose and a passion. Through her, he lived many years longer than one would have anticipated. Thank you Doris, for all you have done.
Grandpa's with our maker now. Perhaps playing his trumpet...perhaps scoring the music. Whatever he is doing, if he saw us crying he would look at us with those eyes and say "what are you crying about"?
Cheryl,
I'm so sorry to hear of the loss of your Dad. My prayers are with you at this time.
Dorothy Moul, Hart
Pastor Roy has always had a special place in my heart. My first memory of him is when I was a 6th grader at Center Lake Bible Camp. He was the camp pastor for the week. I was asked to play the piano a solo for a chapel service. I was terrified and he encouraged me to just do it and not worry about anyone else. Years later, he became my pastor at Giles Road Baptist Church. When my parents could not talk me into doing anything with my life, Pastor Roy was the one who encouraged me to go to Bible College. He helped me conquer severe shyness and lack of confidence. I will forever be grateful for his impact in my life.
