Kelly Dan Williams

Our beloved father, grandad, great grandad (“Pawpaw”) went to be with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on February 11, 2023 in Georgetown, Texas, after a courageous battle with cancer.

Kelly was born in Corsicana, Texas and grew up mostly in the North Texas and Oklahoma area where his father pastored several Baptist churches and was President of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary when he died. While Kelly was attending Woodrow Wilson High School in Dallas, he met the love of his life, Marianne, and they later married. After graduating from TCU and University of Texas Law School, the couple settled in Houston and raised 7 children together. Kelly was a prominent trial attorney in the area, with a legal career that spanned over fifty years. This included his partnership at Fulbright & Jaworski and as a founding partner at Williams & Blizzard. He had a larger-than-life persona, and his deep love of family was evident. Special memories include motorcycle rides through the Colorado Rockies, scaling the 11,000 foot peaks on dirt bikes and in Jeeps, and numerous family camping and RV adventures. Kelly was also an accomplished, competitive sailor, winning overnight races in the Gulf, including the Texas Ocean Racing Circuit on his Cal 24!Caliente, and many other races on his Cal 40 Miss Demeanor. He and Marianne enjoyed decades of sailing with their children and grandchildren, family and friends, as members of the Houston Yacht Club. Kelly had a keen interest in cars, with a propensity for the fast lane. He appreciated fine German automobiles, from his VW “Thing “ to his Mercedes AMG Hammer, fondly nicknamed the “mafia car” by his grandkids.

After Marianne’s death, Kelly lived his later years volunteering through agencies such as Meals on Wheels and Faith in Action. He also enjoyed preaching in several different retirement communities. His life verse became, “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy - meditate on these things.” (Philippians 4:8). For Kelly, his time spent serving others was the most rewarding and when he felt closest to the Lord. He and Marianne were blessed to be married for 55 years and see their Christian legacy continue in the lives of their children and grandchildren.

Kelly was preceded in death by his lovely wife Marianne, and daughter Cynthia Williams Carter, and by his brother J. Howard Williams, and sisters, Martha Genne Williams Sandford-Hawkes and Carolyn Williams Mason.

He is survived by his children: Kelly Dan Williams Jr., Laura Williams Hall (James), Karen Williams Nelson (Will), John O. Williams (Deborah), Marianne “Anne” Williams Trevino (Charles), David B. Williams (Amy), his youngest sister Floy Kate Williams Woodruff of Paso Robles, Ca., his 24 grandchildren, 32 great grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Memorial service will be held March 4, 2023 @ 1:00 pm in the J.H.Williams Reception Room in the Naylor Student Center at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

2001 W. Seminary Drive

Ft. Worth, Texas 76116



Reception to follow with graveside service at 4:30 pm

Mansfield City Cemetery, Cemetery Road

Mansfield, Tx. 76063

In lieu of flowers, consider donations to Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Faith in Action, or Samaritan’s Purse.


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