Funeral services for Bert Ray Williams were held at 2 p.m. Thursday, April 20, in with Montgomery-Viets Chapel with the Rev. Paul Bliss officiating.  Music was by Vermon, Jo Ann and Monty Viets, who sang "Shall We Gather At the River" and "The Old Rugged Cross."  Casketbearers were Jimmy Beckner, James Clapp, Larry Clapp, Ray Dean Clapp, David Mulkey and Victor Mulkey .  Interment was in the Hill Cemetery under the direction of Montgomery-Viets Funeral Home in Buffalo.
 Bert Ray Williams was born on April 9, 1900 at Long Lane, the son of Greenberry and Amanda (Slack) Williams.  He died on April 17, 1989 at the Cox Medical Center-North in Springfield, at the age of 89 years old and eight days.
 On June 9, 1924, he was united in marriage with Mabel Betty and 10 children were born of this union.  He was preceded in death by one son, Jerrid, who died in infancy; by two brothers, Frank and Clyde; and four sisters, May, Leta, Flora, and Ruth.
 He is survived by his wife, Mabel; three sons: Herbert of Owensboro, Ky., Jackie of Lamonte and Junior of Buffalo; six daughters: Frances Swigert of Marshall; Thelma Douthitt of Davenport, Iowa; Cora Garrison of Independence; Cecil Routt of Perkins, Okla.; Georgia Williams of Sedalia; and Mary Jasper of Half Way; two sisters, Leah Bennett of St. Louis and Nola Culverhouse of Pendleton, Ore.; 32 grandchildren, 42 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.