Cecilia Williamson

At the age of 95, filled with His love and grace, Cecilia Williamson returned home to her Father on May 9, where she joins her family and friends who have gone before her.

Her parents Joseph and Justina Eicher and her beloved husband Virgil W. Williamson preceded Cecilia in death. Also preceding her were brothers Joe Eicher, Frank Eicher, Victor Eicher and sisters Mary Eicher, Sr. Rose Anne Eicher and Georgia McConnell. She is survived by son Virgil Woodie Williamson of Houston, daughter Margaret Campbell of Rogers, son George (Deborah) Williamson of San Antonio, daughter Anne Wilkins (Warren) of San Antonio, daughter Joyce Munoz of San Marcos, and daughter Cathy (Michael) Cage of Austin. In addition, she is survived by two sisters Otilla Gregory and Mildred Gregory. Cecilia had nine grandchildren: Derek Campbell, Casey Campbell, Christal Murray, Betsy Cantu, Aaron Munoz, Tess McGoldrick, Victoria Slavic, Rachel Cage and Alex Cage. Cecilia was also blessed with 15 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Cecilia was born in East Bernard, Texas on Nov. 18, 1923. She grew up reading, writing and speaking both English and Czech. The Czech heritage ran deep through her life and she enjoyed attending the Czech Society activities. Cecilia lived a full and faith filled life. Growing up in the depression it was a life full of hard work and she was not afraid of the hard work, rather she embraced it. She worked the family cotton fields in her youth. After her brothers left to serve in WWII, she was her father’s primary partner in the cotton fields. She also taught herself to be an excellent seamstress, creating her own patterns to make shirts for her father and nursing uniforms for her sister Mary. Cecilia and Virgil married in November of 1945, moved to Gonzales, and worked hard raising six children. She continued to use her seamstress skills making clothes for her children and later for her grandchildren.

In the early 70s Cecilia received a job offer to work at the local Western Auto store. She went to work at Western Auto and became a fixture there for twenty plus years. She thoroughly enjoyed helping her customers with their needs. Cecilia was also a member of the Ladies Auxiliary at the Gonzales Hospital and enjoyed her volunteer work there for more than twenty years. She was a lifelong member of the St. James Altar Society and served as the Treasurer for a number of years. Cecilia celebrated any work she could do for the church. She was a prolific rosary maker and after retiring from Western Auto she made rosaries for first communicants, retreatants, graduates, and for people serving in our military to name a few of the groups she served. Cecilia made many hundreds of rosaries to promote her Catholic faith and encourage others to pray the rosary. She was also blessed to serve as a Eucharistic minister and a lector at St. James. She attended Mass faithfully during the week as well as on Sunday.

Cecilia had a big, green thumb and loved taking care of her vegetable garden as well as a variety of flowers and plants, including growing her own pineapple. When raising six children, the garden had to be big and the kitchen was like an assembly line, canning and freezing the abundance of vegetables from the garden. Cecilia was an excellent cook and baker. Her amazing poppy seed cake was always requested for bake sales and church social events.

Cecilia was a good and faithful servant full of love for her faith, family, and friends.

The family thanks Dr. Commie Hisey who took great care of Cecilia for many years as her physician. In addition, we thank the Visiting Angels team and the team of care providers at Autumn Leaves.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. James Altar Society, the Ladies Auxiliary at the Gonzales Hospital or a charity of your choice.