Doris Parks Williams

Doris Parks Williams, 88, of Enid, passed away in March 2026. Born on August 9, 1936, in Asheville, North Carolina, she was the eldest daughter of William Richard Parks and Gloria Abrams Parks. A strong and independent woman of deep faith, Doris faced life’s challenges with courage and became an influential source of encouragement to many who struggled in their own journeys. She lived out her commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ until her final breath.

After losing her father in an accident at a young age, Doris grew up in the small town of Newberry, South Carolina, where her mother raised her and her younger sister Gloria with the support of extended family. She cherished the simple rhythms of small-town life and found joy in horseback riding, waterskiing, and Girl Scouts, through which she developed leadership, discipline, and a lifelong love of the outdoors. Though she faced difficulties with a learning disability, she persevered and went on to earn a degree in secondary education from Newberry College and a master’s degree in teaching from East Tennessee State University.

Doris taught math and science in Florida, where she was known for her high standards and fierce dedication to her students. She later married the late Dr. Lyman O. Williams, a professor of geology at Phillips University in Enid, Oklahoma. Together they had two sons, Richard Douglas Williams of Enid and Russell Gordon Williams of Comox, British Columbia, Canada. She is also survived by two grandchildren, Tilly Williams and Finn Williams, both students at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Though their marriage ended in divorce, Doris and Lyman remained friends.

In 1995, Doris sold her small business, The Paint Shop in Enid, and spent the next decade serving as a missionary in Budapest, Hungary, with Operation Mobilization. She worked as a bookkeeper, spoke in churches throughout the Hungarian countryside, wrote curriculum for Sunday schools, Bible studies, and camps, and served in soup kitchens and ministries for the handicapped. She formed many lasting friendships there, including with a young woman in a wheelchair who became her translator. Upon returning to Enid, she volunteered at Grace Church and founded Enter His Gates Horse Camp near Garber, where she cared for twelve horses and welcomed nearly a hundred children each summer for horsemanship, fishing, archery, canoeing, crafts, and lessons from God’s Word. Her ministry through the camp continues to this day.

Even in her later years at The Arbors Assisted Living Facility, Doris remained a source of joy and encouragement to those around her with her contagious laughter and resilient spirit. She will be remembered as a shining light and a giant of faith by all who knew her. She is survived by her sons, grandchildren, and dear friends including Loretta Ohr, Scott and Sherry Carrier, and Cynthia Smith, who provided loving support in her final days.