Fred Lake Williams Jr.

MR. FRED LAKE WILLIAMS JR. Fred Lake Williams, Jr., PhD, originally from Henryetta, Oklahoma, formerly of Burke, Virginia, and most recently of Barnsdall, Oklahoma, passed away October 29, 2016. He was 72 years old. He was born at Dyersburg Army Airfield, Dyersburg, Tennessee, on August 1, 1944, to 1st Lt. Fred and Connie (Crosby) Williams, both from Henryetta; his father was an Army Air Corps B-17 pilot and flight instructor. Fred graduated from Henryetta High School in 1962 and attended Kemper Military School and College in Boonville, Missouri, for one year before transferring to Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma. He graduated from OSU in 1967 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science and immediately went to work for the United States Department of Agriculture, Livestock Division, as a meat grader in Philadelphia. In 1969, he transferred to St. Joseph, Missouri, as a Market News reporter. He married Peggy Pharaoh, also from Henryetta. They moved to San Francisco, where Fred was a Market News reporter, where he gained notoriety as “the Okie from Muskogee” because he routinely mispronounced all the regional California towns during his daily radio broadcasts. “San Joaquin” was particularly challenging. Fred and Peggy spent one year in Washington, DC, where Fred worked in the Market News bureau; and their son Jeff was born. The family then moved to Kansas City where Fred was a meat grading supervisor; and their daughter Jennifer was born. The family then moved back to the Washington, DC area and spent the next 25 years there. Fred worked in the Standardization and Review office, and travelled the country to ensure all animal, carcass, and meat grading was consistent. Fred also judged many state fairs and livestock shows, including the Houston Livestock Show. He also graded the Guatemala National Livestock Show. Fred authored the standards for Certified Angus Beef. Fred was honored with a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Animal Science from Texas Tech University. He was also honored as a Graduate of Distinction from Oklahoma State University. While in the Washington, DC area, Fred served as an elder at Calvary Christian Church. Upon retirement, Fred moved to Barnsdall, Oklahoma, where he eventually served for several years on the Barnsdall School Board and as an elder at First Christian Church. Fred is survived by his wife of 47 years, Peggy Pharaoh Williams; a daughter, Jennifer Colleton, and Jennifer’s daughter, MacKenzie, both of Barnsdall; and a son, Jeff, of Barnsdall, and Jeff’s three daughters, Kate, Caroline, and Elizabeth, all of Bassett, Virginia. He was preceded in death by both of his parents. The family will host a celebration of life event for extended family and friends on November 12 at 2:00 PM on their ranch. The family asks that, in lieu of flowers, gifts be made in Fred’s honor to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America or the American Heart Association. Friends who wish may sign the online guest book and leave condolences at www.stumpff.org.

Fred Lake Williams Jr.

August 1, 1944 - October 29, 2016