Bryan Reginald “Dugan” Williams (June 20, 1938 - July 25, 2021) was born at his family’s homeplace near Rayborn in rural Marshall County, Okla. to Wayne Reginald Williams and Mary Edith “Kinky” Tyner Williams. He was the oldest of four siblings.
From a young age, Dugan was a hard worker, and that ethic defined his life. As soon as he could carry a bucket, he helped tend the family’s livestock and his lifelong nickname came from a calf “skinny Dugan” that he took care of. As soon as his feet could reach the pedals, Dugan started driving tractors and farm trucks.
The family moved to McMillan in western Marshall County when he was a child and he attended McMillan School through the eighth grade, then transferred to Madill High School where he graduated in 1956. He really didn’t care much for school, but his mother persevered and made sure he graduated. In fact, she held his diploma for safekeeping, always saying that she had earned it too. Dugan did enjoy Ag and shop classes, was a member of the Madill High School FFA Chapter and served as reported during his senior year. After graduation, he worked with his father in the wheat harvest, then running a bulldozer and other heavy equipment.
He was married to Cecilia Ann Morrow on August 6, 1960, in Durant and they established their first home in Brown, rural Bryan County. They were blessed with three children, daughter Mary Ann and sons, Bryan Keith and Joe Ben. Dugan gave his life to Jesus during those early years when Brother Denton came by their house to visit. Many years later, he was baptized by Brother Bob Waitman and joined Madill First Baptist Church at that time.
Early in their marriage, Dugan and Cecilia moved back to Marshall County where he lived the remainder of his life. Dugan worked for his daddy as a bulldozer and heavy equipment operator and soon went into business for himself doing dirt and construction work all over southern Oklahoma in the oilfields, including well locations for Texaco and several other oil companies. He built many, many roads and stock ponds in this area and most of them are still in good condition to this day.
In 1968, he went to work for his uncle Clinton Williams at Texoma Feed Store in Madill. Then, in 1969 when Clint decided to get into the peanut business, Dugan and his family moved to Enos to manage and operate Texoma Farms growing peanuts, potatoes, watermelons and raising cattle. Dugan always tried to hire local people if they wanted to work and he employed many teenage boys on his irrigation and farming crews. He never asked anyone to do something he wouldn’t do himself and worked side by side with his crews taking care of whatever needed to be done.
In 1979, the family moved back to Madill and Dugan was integral in building Texoma Peanut Company from the ground up. Clinton put him in charge of the sheller operation and Dugan, along with M.F. Griswold and many others built the shelling and inshell processing plants. When given a rough idea, Dugan could build anything; he brought Clint’s ideas to life as evidenced by the success of those peanut operations for many years. Dugan was a humble, hardworking man who didn’t seek attention for his labors and gave 110% to anything he was faced with. If a job needed to be done, he made it happen. He worked for the Clint Williams and Texoma Peanut Companies until their closure in 2014. His talents as a dozer and grader operator were put to use with the initial dirtwork for the Madill soccer fields at City Lake and he also did much of the dirt work at Pettijohn Springs Christian Camp.
After the peanut company closed, Dugan continued working around his place and occupied himself with gardening, raising cattle and hay and tinkering with mechanics in his shop building. He enjoyed spending time with his family, watching westerns, How It’s Made and Dr. Pol, as well as bluegrass music and religious programs on television and reading his Bible.
Dugan is survived by his wife Cecilia, of the home; daughter Mary Ann, sons Bryan Keith and wife Cheryl, Joe Ben and wife Shannon, all of Madill; grandsons, Hank and Griffon Williams, granddaughter Megan Rose Williams and husband Kristopher, all of Madill, Crystal Kerley and husband Jeremiah, Anita “Nikki” Henley, Denise “Dani” Willis and husband Chris, Jessie Henley and an adopted grandson, Cruiz Martinez of Tishomingo. He is also survived by great-grandchildren Kasen Ray Eddings, Kensley and Gunner Hank Williams; Bowdy Lee, Brady Keith and Kolton Brock Weemes; Amanda, Levi and Preston Kerley, Jorja Leanna and Charlee Henley, Troy Willis, Haiven and Blakelyn Henley and a great-grandchild, Jordyn. He is also survived by his brother John and wife Joraine Williams, sister Doris Farris, all of Madill and sister Mary Edith “Susie” and husband Jim Barrett of Tulsa, his aunt Francis “Gal” Birdsong of Del City, Okla. and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and coworkers over the years who became like family.
He was preceded in death by his parents, several aunts and uncles and a great-grandson, Justus Kerley.
In lieu of flowers, please honor Dugan’s memory by making a contribution that benefits children or animals.
Funeral Service was hekd Wednesday, July 28, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. at the Watts Memorial Chapel in Madill, Okla. Sebastian Connor and Frank Davis officiated the service. Interment wasat the Oakland Cemetery in Oakland, Okla. Services were under the direction of Watts Funeral Home in Madill, Okla. Condolences may be sent to wattsfuneralhome.com.
Casket Bearers were Frank Davis, John Garrett, Pat Garrett, Andy Hughes, Shawn Pierce, Bud Hale, and Eddie Jonak with the honorary Bearers as Eli Posey, Wayne Scott, J. A. Saxon.
