Carolyn Sue (Waters) Williams-Patterson

Carolyn Sue (Waters) Williams-Patterson, 85, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Saturday, September 5, 2026. A devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, Carolyn lived a life rooted in faith, strengthened by love, and devoted to caring for others.

Born in Scratchout, Oklahoma, on June 29, 1941, to Ted Waters and Bessie (Eagle) Cason, Carolyn was raised in Muldrow and Sallisaw. She earned her GED and carried the values of hard work, perseverance, and compassion throughout her life.

On July 26, 1958, Carolyn married the love of her life, Jesse Donald Williams, in Stilwell, Oklahoma. They shared 52 years of marriage and were blessed with three children: Felicia Sue, Jesse Donald Ray, and Edward Scott. Their life together was a testament to commitment and enduring love.

Carolyn worked as a teacher’s aide at Central for 12 years before serving others through her work in home health for another 10 years. She retired from home health to care for her beloved Donald, devoting 15 years to his care with patience, tenderness, and unwavering commitment.

Her grandchildren—Kyle David Flanagan, Aleson Paige Williams, Nicholas Scott Williams, and Levi Barlow—were her everything. They remember their Granny as patient and wise, honest with her words, and generous with her love. An encourager at heart, Carolyn was supportive and always ready with a word of wisdom. She believed in telling you what you needed to hear, even when it wasn’t necessarily what you wanted to hear. Behind every honest word was love. She always looked for the good in others and firmly believed in redemption, offering grace and seeing the possibility of a new beginning in every person.

Carolyn’s kitchen was a place of comfort, often with a pot of chicken and dumplings or beans simmering on the stove. And anyone who knew Carolyn knew she loved her onions! A talented seamstress, she made countless clothes, quilts, and blankets, sharing her love through the work of her hands. She also found joy in tending her flowers, playing music, and singing with friends.

As a lifelong, dedicated member of New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, Carolyn lived out her faith through service. Over the years, she served as treasurer, secretary, clerk, and Sunday School teacher, and she shared her musical gifts as the church pianist for more than 20 years. Her love for the Lord shaped how she cared for her family, served her church, and welcomed others into her life.

Carolyn was preceded in death by her parents, Ted Waters and Bessie (Eagle) Cason; her beloved husband of 52 years, Donald Williams; her loving husband of five years, Rick Patterson; her brothers, Ted Waters, John Waters, and Toby Waters; and her sister, Martha Bledsow.

Left to cherish her memory are her brother, Jerry Waters; her children, Felicia Sue Williams-Pritchett and husband Frank, Jesse Donald Ray Williams and wife Mindy, and Edward Scott Williams and wife Ashley; her treasured grandchildren, Kyle David Flanagan, Aleson Paige Williams, Nicholas Scott Williams, and Levi Barlow and wife Christina; her special niece Leah Vaughn; and extended family, church family, and dear friends.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, September 12, 2026 at 1:00 PM at Agent Mallory Martin Funeral Home in Sallisaw, Oklahoma.

Viewing will be noon - 8 PM Friday at Agent Mallory Martin Funeral Home in Sallisaw where the family will receive visitors from 6 - 8 PM.

Heaven gained an angel, and those who loved Carolyn will carry her memory in every familiar hymn, every lovingly stitched quilt, and every meal shared around the family table. Her legacy of faith, encouragement, and unconditional love will live on through the generations she cherished.