Star Williams

Born in her parents' home in Pitt County, N. Carolina on May 1, 1914, Star May Hearne was one of eight children. She grew up taking care of younger siblings, playing "teacher" and walked a mile to school each day. During the Depression her family got by with a big garden, milk cow and raising chickens. Everyone worked at something, and Star did her part with babysitting for 10 cents/day, clerking at the dime store for $1/week, and helping her mother with chores like churning butter, canning, and garden work. In high school she excelled in sports such as basketball, gymnastics and tennis. She attended N. Carolina Teachers College to pursue her dream and began her career teaching high school chemistry and math, coaching women's basketball and class plays. During WWII while teaching she lived in a small boarding house, where she was invited to a dinner and met her handsome Navy Captain Gordon Bullitt "Tex" Williams. They both swore they never wanted to get married, and 4 months later in 1942 they tied the knot in a quick ceremony at the local courthouse, before Tex shipped off to his mine-sweeper command for several years. Star kept teaching under her maiden name, as in those days it was forbidden for a married woman to be a teacher. After the war, Star & Tex moved to Texas where Tex finished his Petroleum Engineering degree. They both loved to travel, so at every opportunity they took off to see the west, camping in a pup tent in the snow beside Jenny Lake to fish, winter skiing on Mt. Hood. After several job moves, they ended up 10 years later in Oklahoma City, where their only child Donna was born. In 1956 they moved to South America, where Tex worked for Texaco, and Star became principal & only teacher at a one room schoolhouse with 13 children, 7 grades. Being in S. America was a wonderful opportunity to explore more countries & cultures, which Star & Tex took full advantage of. Life in a little company oil town offered exotic foods, exotic pets like her deer & monkey, sail-boating, Spanish lessons, Bridge lessons, festive dinners & dances, live-in maids, beautiful weather, pristine beaches, an occasional earthquake and falling ash from a distant volcano. Everything from the Amazon to the Andes was explored during the 6 years there. After a military coup nationalized the oil company and made life a little dangerous, Star & family moved back to the U.S. Before settling in Casper, WY in 1964, Star & Tex took a "round the world" trip to see Europe & Asia. In Casper Star enjoyed teaching at Paradise Valley Elementary School, bowling league, camping, backpacking, hunting, skiing & snowmobiling, and always involved in school plays. In 1970 the family took an unforgettable trip to E. Africa on safari- camping at the base of Mt. Kilimanjaro, crossing the Serengeti Plains with the zebras, giraffes, elephants, rhinos, lions, monkeys & more, visiting Masai tribes, boating Victoria Falls with the hippos & crocs. It was an unforgettable experience. After retirement, Star & Tex took a hiking trip with a group through the Swiss Alps. Shortly later, Tex unexpectedly passed on, and eventually Star decided to spend her winters in Phoenix, where her daughter lived. She built herself a small home in a retirement community where she busied herself with volunteer teaching at "Boys Ranch", bridge groups, exercise classes, social events and gardening. She loved to entertain, and would often have groups of friends over for coffee & breakfast, deserts after a dance or outing. Weekends were spent with her daughter where they would often take short trips around the state. She talked her sisters into going with her on several trips, one to Russia, then China, and she and Donna visited Australia and N. Zealand. Summers in Casper she spent many happy hours working in her garden, pulling weeds, nourishing her flowers, Then she'd sit up in her glassed in porch to rest, overlooking her yard and admiring its beauty, and thank Tex for building her porch for her. One of her last goals met was to publish a children's story about Christmas. She never let the grass grow under her feet. On Wednesday, April 22, 2015, she passed away peacefully after a valiant fight against complications from pneumonia. Star Williams lived her life with optimism, enthusiasm, a warm and loving spirit toward all she met. She was able to live her dreams, accomplish her goals and was always the most wonderful mother, wife and friend. She was an extraordinary woman who will be forever missed. She was preceded in death by her husband Tex Williams, her parents Louisa Star May & William Augustus Bernard Hearne, siblings Champ Hearne, William Hearne, Laura Marcus, Lucille Swaney, Marcellus Hearne, Venetia Pentecost, Ada Ray. She is survived by her daughter Donna (Gary) Wyatt, and a long list of wonderful nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family, Per her request, there will be no services. Following cremation Star will be placed to rest next to her beloved husband. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Salvation Army.