Mary Louise James

Graveside services for Mary Louise James, 89, Alton, Missouri, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, May 16, 2025, at Redburn Cemetery, under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.  

Mrs. James was called to her heavenly reward on May 9, 2025.  

Mary Lou was born August 26, 1935, at Rover, Missouri, to Ray M. and Clara Mae Huddleston.  She graduated from Thomasville High School with the Class of 1954.  She excelled in many sports, but her favorites were softball and volleyball.  She was a talented athlete and always at the top of her game.  Upon graduation, Mary Lou attended Arkansas State University and received a bachelor’s degree in education.   In August 1954, she was married to Carl R. Williams.  To this union, two sons and one daughter were born:  Larry Ray Williams, Gilly John Williams, and Vickie Louann Williams.  They raised their children on a family farm near Thomasville, Missouri.  Mary Lou started her teaching career in Ring, Arkansas, followed by various grade schools, including Nebo, Essex, Birch Tree, Alton, and Dixon, and she finished her career at Willow Springs.  She taught kindergarten through sixth grade and retired after more than thirty years of faithful service.  Mary Lou attended Shilo Baptist Church in Rover, Missouri, from childhood through adulthood and was a member for many years.  She also attended Trinity Baptist Church in Willow Springs and First Free Will Baptist Church in West Plains.  Mary Lou was always involved with music.  She enjoyed playing, singing, and performing Country, Bluegrass, and Gospel music with her husband, Eugene James.  They traveled by camper throughout the South and attended many music festivals.  She and Eugene also enjoyed fishing and spent many hours in Arkansas, Missouri, and Texas, honing their skills in both music and fishing. 

She is survived by her son, Larry Williams (Alicia); five grandsons, Johnathon Williams (Elin), Taylor Capocaccia, Carter Capocaccia (Ruquel), Kennith Miller (Desiree), and James Miller (Renee); one granddaughter, Kimberlee Williams; three great-grandsons, Rylan Light, Desmond Williams, and Arlo Capocaccia; seven great-granddaughters, Brooklyn Miller, Carmen Miller, Kaylee Light, Mattie Schmidt, Katelyn Miller, Bailey Miller, and Juliette Williams; and one sister, Dorothy Barton.

Her parents, two children, Gilly John Williams and Vickie Louann Tipton, one brother, Dale Huddleston, two sisters, LaWanda Smoot and Joyce VonAllmen, and three spouses, Carl R. Williams, Oscar L. Jones, and H. Eugene James, preceded her in death.  

Visitation will be from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., Friday, in the Langston Street Chapel of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.  Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or Redburn Cemetery Tornado Relief and may be left at or mailed to Robertson-Drago Funeral Home, 211 West Main, West Plains, MO  65775.