Martha Anne Williams

Martha Anne Williams was born on Sunday, July 13, 1930 in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. She was the only child of Robert Elwin Williams and Leona Fern (Butler) of Broken Arrow, OK. She passed away on Saturday, May 4, 2024 at Prairie House in Broken Arrow. She was 93 years, 9 months and 21 days of age. Martha was single, very independent, successful, adventurous and loved people and animals. She was blessed to have a dedicated circle of friends and family who loved her and colleagues who championed her throughout her lifetime. She was well known for her straight forwardness and “feisty” personality! Her grandfather, W. N. Williams, was one of four founders of the town that became Broken Arrow. In early days, Martha and her parents lived with her grandparents in a two-story Victorian home near Main Street. They moved to Tulsa when her father got a job with the post office. At 10 years old she would ride the train every weekend to Broken Arrow to visit her grandparents. Martha graduated from Central High School in Tulsa in 1948 and worked her first job in the school office. She attended OSU and in 1975 she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from Tulsa University by attending night school. She worked for Shell Oil, then Mid Continent Pipeline, a subsidiary of the old Sunray DX, as an Executive Secretary to the President of the company. In 1973 she was promoted to an Economics Analyst with Sun Pipe Line Co. The Tulsa Tribune said she was the first women to fill such a position. She retired in December of 1986 and continued to read the Wall Street Journal every day into her 90s. She served on the Board of Directors for many organizations throughout her life. Martha kept a large world map and placed a red pin for every trip she took throughout the world. She traveled to 50 countries and numerous locations in the United states. She loved going with her friends on day trips to out-of-the-way tea rooms, antique shops and historical sights. Martha enjoyed golf, bowling, sports, and crossword puzzles. Her deepest passion was animals of all kinds, especially cats! In some circles she was affectionately known as the “Cat Lady”. Volunteering was a way of life for her and she was well known by Broken Arrow Neighbors, Rotary Club, Silver Service, BA Senior Center, Street Cats, and she tirelessly worked the Wagoner County voting polls. She was active in the Broken Arrow Community Playhouse and portrayed the character “Mary” in The Octette Bridge Club in 1990 and “Lois” in Daughter of the Lone Star. She was a member of the Bixby and Broken Arrow Museum and Historical Society and especially enjoyed Rooster Day and riding in the parade as a BA “pioneer”. She truly gave of her time, talent and was generous to many causes and organizations. Martha was fun loving and liked to celebrate life. Some of her later-in-life birthdays included riding on a Gold Wing motor cycle, taking a hot air balloon ride, getting a butterfly tattoo on her arm, and sky diving from a plane. For her 90th she enjoyed a well-attended celebration at the BA Museum during Covid. In reflection of her life, Martha confidently stated “I did it my way” and that she did! Martha is survived by cousins Scott and (Cindy) Rylander and Joseph Eugene Lowery of Tulsa, OK, and Russ Coleman and (Paula Aduen) of Jacksonville, FL, Jill and (Ricky) Dent, Allison and (Spencer) Parker of Oklahoma City, and Jack and (Brittyn) Coleman of Boulder, CO, Bill Coleman, Norman, OK, Gaile Zack, Wilmington, NC. She was preceded in death by Grandparents William Newton “Newt” Williams and Ida Knight of Broken Arrow, OK and parents: Robert Elwin Williams and Leona Fern (Butler) of Broken Arrow, OK. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Street Cats, Inc., 6520 East 60th Street, Tulsa, OK 74145 or Broken Arrow Neighbors, 322 West Broadway, Broken Arrow, OK 74012.

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Martha Anne Williams

July 13, 1930 - May 4, 2024