Vernon Leroy Williams

Vernon Leroy Williams was born March 2, 1940, in Newalla, Oklahoma, to Oral Lee Williams and Martha Lena Hill Williams. He went to be with his Lord and Savior Easter Sunday, April 5, 2026, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, at the age of 86 years. Vernon completed his education in McLoud, Oklahoma, with McLoud High School. He met Harlene Vannosdoll at the Shawnee Round Up Club and they married in 1960 in Newalla, Oklahoma and raised 3 children. He spent most of his working life as a truck driver with Sun Oil, Chief Freight Lines and Yellow Freight Lines. He retired from Yellow Freight Lines in 1998 and soon started Williams Dozer Service. Vernon enjoyed a variety of pastimes, but rodeoing was his passion. He had been a member of the International Professional Rodeo Association, Southwest Cowboys Association, American Cowboys Rodeo Association, Cowboys Regional Rodeo Association, and the Rodeo Cowboys Association. He was the 1968 Southwest Cowboys Association Year End and Average Bull Riding Champion. He was selected as a judge for multiple Association Finals which he did with great pride. He taught several bull riding schools for area cowboys. He also taught one of the first rodeo schools for women. Many of his students went on to compete at the professional level. In 2009 he was awarded the Willie Mendell Lifetime Achievement Award. Vernon loved the Lord and his family and friends. He had an incredible impact on many people right up to the end with his doctors, nurses and other staff members. He loved telling old rodeo stories and if you loved a good joke, well he was your guy, but he may be laughing too hard to tell the punch line, but it didn’t matter because you were laughing with him. His favorite line was “Let er rip” and he said it to his grandkids in the hospital, because he was ready to break out and go home. He loved his life right up to the end. He wasn’t ready to leave behind his loved ones and dear friends, but the Cowboy knew it was his time to ride away. Those he leaves behind who hold a lifetime of memories include Children; Paul Williams and wife Rhonda, of Bartlesville, Oklahoma Robin Backward and husband Carey, of Talala, Oklahoma Kim Adcock and husband Burke, of Miami, Texas Grandchildren; Michael Williams and wife Jaci, of Edmond, Oklahoma Ryan Williams and wife Sara, of Sperry, Oklahoma Jake Williams, of Sacramento, California Regan Morgans and husband Justin, of Claremore, Oklahoma Sarah Roberts and husband Ryan, of Collinsville, Oklahoma Chad Backward, of Inola, Oklahoma Cale Backward and wife Jamie, of Verdigris, Oklahoma Katie Rice and husband Tarin, of Poolville, Texas Ty Adcock, of Miami, Texas Siblings; Zelah Kear of Prattville, Oklahoma Jackie Gust of Prattville Dear Friend; Delores West of Lenapah, Oklahoma He also leaves behind many great grand-children, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by Harlene, his parents, Oral and Martha Williams, brother, Bob Williams, sister Ellen Tifft, and son-in-law, Scott Hendricks. Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at Mowery Funeral Service in Owasso. Funeral service will be 10:30 Thursday, April 9, 2026, at the Talala First Baptist Church with Pastor Lester Orwig, Wendell Abbott, and Tony Keesee officiating. Serving as casket bearers will be David Wesson, Mike Neely, Dennis Keys, Jerry LaValley, Jerry Wright, and Steve Abernathy. Honorary casket bearers will be Jim Mudd, Eldon Day, Mark Owen, Jim Turnbull, Raymond Griffin, James Calico, Shorty Garten, and Steve Gann. Graveside service will be held 2:30 p.m. Thursday afternoon at the Oak Hill Cemetery in Mannford, Oklahoma. Arrangements and services were entrusted to Mowery Funeral Service of Owasso. www.moweryfs.com In lieu of flowers you can donate to the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund in Vernon honor. www.justincowboycrisisfund.org/

Vernon Leroy Williams

March 2, 1940 - April 5, 2026