Ocie Williamson

Ocie Williamson, 98, of Rogers, Ark., passed away at his Beaver Lake home on August 7, 2019, 13 days shy of his 99th birthday with Kiddy Cat at his side. Ocie was born on August 20, 1920 to Bennie & Martha Williamson in Floydada, Texas. Ocie grew up in the Lubbock, Texas area experiencing the great depression and worked at his family's multiple businesses, which included grocery stores and selling seeds and flowers. In 1942, he went to work for Boeing Airplane in Wichita and it was there that he met his future wife Viola (Smokie) Deller, whom he married on October 16, 1943, and enjoyed 72 years of marriage. Ocie enlisted in the army from 1945 to 1947 and upon his release he moved from Washington DC back to Lubbock and took over the Williamson Seed Co. from his parents, which he retired from in 1978 and moved to Rogers, Ark. in 1986. Ocie enjoyed playing tennis, traveling, square dancing, socializing, and was a well-known woodcarver, a member of the Woodcarvers of Northwest Arkansas, and a regular showing his carvings at the Frisco Mall Woodcarving Show. Ocie is preceded in death by his wife Smokie, parents, and one brother Carmen. Ocie is survived by Kiddy Cat, Loraine & Dale Burleson, several nieces, nephews, and many friends. Graveside service will be 1 p.m. Monday, August 12, 2019, at Benton County Memorial Park Funeral Home in Rogers, Ark. Burial will follow in Benton County Memorial Park Cemetery in Rogers. The family and friends of Ocie would like to thank Circle of Life of Bentonville and BrightStar Home Care for their care and support they provided during his return trip to his home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Circle of Life. Arrangements by Benton County Memorial park Funeral Home, 3800 W. Walnut, Rogers, Ark.