Mary "Elaine" Williams

Mary "Elaine" Williams passed away on March 15, 2022 in Keizer, Oregon.  She was born in Port Orchard, WA to Dycel and Maxine Hoyez.  The family moved to Oregon when she was a small girl along with her sister Darlaine.  Her father passed away suddenly when she was about 4 years old.  She attended schools in the Klamath Falls area completing her schooling at Klamath Union High School.

Elaine married Ross Leon Tomlin and they had 2 children, Robbin and Randy.  They moved from Klamath Falls in 1963 to San Francisco, CA where dad's new job was.  We lived there until 1974 when we moved back to Klamath Falls.  During our amazing childhood, literally every school break mom enjoyed visiting family in Klamath Falls and Lakeview.  On our visits weather permitted, we did a lot of outdoor activities such as camping/fishing/bottle and agate hunting/target practicing/hooky bobbing in the snow and lots of picnics with family and friends.  Mom was the life of all the parties and always enjoyed sharing stories, laughing and playing.  She loved everyone and everyone loved her.  Mom and dad decided they made better friends than being married as they divorced and remained friends up to the day our father passed away in 2000.  We couldn't have asked for better parents and are especially grateful for all the wonderful experiences they gave us and the lifelong friends we all made in CA and Klamath Falls/Lakeview.

Growing up our mom was very active in the local bowling alley in South City CA., Not only did she work there for several years she was active as a bowling coach to junior and bantam bowlers.  She inspired many of our friends with her generosity, love and attention to keep them involved in the sport of bowing and even organized fund raisers to attend out of town bowling tournaments.  Her fondest memory was when we all traveled on a full size bus to Anaheim, CA for a bowling Tournament and a day of Disneyland!

Mom married once again and she and her husband Ted Williams purchased the Blue Ox Restaurant and Lounge in Klamath Falls where she enjoyed bar-tending and feeding patrons.  After a few years they opened and successfully operated 2 local Video stores in Klamath Falls called Theo's videos.  Those video stores were sold to Robbin and Randy.  She soon became a single woman enjoying life, family and her 3 grandchildren.

Mom has had a venturous life living in multiple places with her family.  Her most magical times were living and working in Malibu, CA off of PCH Highway.  There is where she worked at Tranca's Market and ran their VHS video store.  The high-lite of her career was meeting countless movie stars who frequented the store and got to know her very well calling her by her first name.  Yes she was star struck but indeed respected their privacy.  We visited her there often.  She then moved to Keizer, OR to be close to her children and grandchildren where she soon retired.

Mom adored her 3 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.  She utilized her bragging rights and spoke about them often showing current pictures to everyone!  She liked to nickname her grandchildren, in fact she nicknamed her 1st grandchild, Jamie as "Sugarbabe" and soon she became known and referenced to as "Grma Sugarbabe".  She loved being called this!

Everyone who knew mom loved her to pieces.  Our mom spoke to everyone no matter where we were.  Strangers were turned in to acquaintances and lots of them turned in to close friends throughout the years.  Mom has kept multiple friends from our childhood and her ventures close in contact.  She looked forward to Wednesday ad day at our Keizer Safeway store where she knew most of the clerks!  Locally mom enjoyed going to the Woodburn Auction, it's there that she met countless people that turned in to close friends.  Throughout the years, Randy and I were amazed how easy it was for her to trust and love almost everyone she met.  She loved to travel, in fact her and Randy went several times to the Dominican Republic where she would pack an entire suit case of gifts and candies to give to the local children and women.  They got to know her and looked forward to seeing her on their visits.  She did and would give anyone in any type of need, assistance at any given time.  She is our Angel in Heaven and we miss her dearly.  She was our best friend.....

She is preceded in death by our loving father Ross Leon Tomlin, her loving mother, Mary "Maxine" Wilson and her very special partner/friend Fred Forsythe of many years.

Mom is survived by her two children of Keizer, OR  Robbin Ruiz-Bony and Randy Tomlin.  In addition to her sister of Klamath Falls, Darlaine Watson, her 2 brothers, Dennis Coleman of Seattle, WA and Ronnie Coleman of Walla Walla,WA.  Her son in-law Kevin Bony.  She is also survived by her 3 grandchildren, Jamie Ruiz of Keizer, OR, Nick Ruiz of Salem, OR, Brian Ruiz of Antelope, CA.  Also her 6 great grandchildren, Brandon and Jolie MacAskill of Keizer, Reese Ramirez of Keizer, Ashlynn and Kaisen of Salem, and Raiden of Antelope.  Her 2 nephews Rick Watson, Sparks NV, Brad Watson of Klamath Falls, and Niece Nila Watson of Klamath Falls, and Nieces Natalie, Teagan and Kaelie from Washington.  In addition to several great nieces Danni, Elizabeth, Jude, great nephew Shane, and Great great nieces, Addie, Maddie, Elizabeth, Caitybelle and Great great nephew Christopher.

If you would like to make a donation on behalf of mom we would be honored if you would donate to our loving nephew/friend Scotty Banke at "See ya Later" Foundation Inc. McMinnville, OR. Carmen.Banke@SeeYaLater.org