Cora Williams

Private family funeral services for Cora Williams, 95 year old longtime Buffalo resident who passed away Tuesday morning at the Amie Holt Care Center in Buffalo will be held Monday, April 13^th from St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Buffalo with Father Doug Wasinger officiating.  Interment will be in Willow Grove Cemetery with graveside services to follow the funeral. Donations in Cora’s memory may be made to the Johnson County Library or the Bread of Life Food Pantry in care of the Harness Funeral Home at 351 N. Adams in Buffalo. Online condolences to her family may be made at www.harnessfuneralhome.com

Cora Pearl Williams was born on February 13, 1925 in Gillette, Wyoming to Cecil and Grace Wilson. She grew up and went to school in Gillette and graduated from Campbell County High School.  She married her high school sweetheart, Jack Williams on July 31, 1941 in Gillette where they made their home. Jack worked for the Burlington Railroad and they moved from Gillette to Utah and then to Scottsbluff, Nebraska.  In 1945 they moved to Buffalo and opened the Buffalo 5 and 10 store.  In 1953 they sold the store to the Hested’s Store chain and continued working there as its managers. In 1955 Jack went to work at the Buffalo Bulletin and in 1960 Jack and Cora purchased part ownership. In 1964 they went into partnership with Jim Hicks and bought the paper from Frank Hicks.  Cora was a receptionist for Drs. Braten and Anderson from 1958 until 1966 and then managed the office supply department at the Buffalo Bulletin. Jack and Cora owned and operated the Buffalo Bulletin with Jim and Mary Hicks until they retired in 1985. They then spent several winters in Green Valley, Arizona. Cora was a devoted caregiver to her husband before he passed  away in January of 2007.  She lived quietly in her own home in Buffalo until moving to the Agape Manor in 2017 and for the last few months she lived at the Amie Holt Care Center until her death.

Cora was an accomplished seamstress. In 1953 she organized the Stitch and Mix 4-H Club and taught many Buffalo girls how to sew and cook.  She even helped some great-granddaughters with their 4-H sewing.  She made over 100 handmade quilts and all of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren were gifted one of these family treasures.  Cora was a member of Beta Sigma Phi, Chapter J of PEO and a member of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church and it’s Altar Guild.

She is survived by one daughter, Sandy Todd and her husband Dave of Buffalo; one son Jeff Williams also of Buffalo; ten grandchildren; fourteen great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, one daughter, Linda Dickinson, one daughter-in-law Pepper Williams, one brother, and one sister.