Betty (Gilmour) Williams

Heaven gained another angel as Betty Kathryn Gilmour Flood Williams passed away peacefully on January 12, 2022, with her loving family by her side. Betty was born on March 16, 1948, in Ellensburg, Washington, to parents Fred and Kathryn (Allmendinger) Thon Gilmour. She was the baby of the family.

The large Gilmour family came to the Kittitas County over a hundred years ago and began running the Gilmour grocery stores. Betty lived in Kittitas her entire life, 73 years in this valley where she positively impacted so many people. Her smile was contagious, her heart was pure, and her child-like wonder for the world was inspiring. She was most peaceful on the back of her horse Bombino. In high school she was voted best dancer and best legs, and the memory most often shared by this community was of her galloping bareback on Bombino, with her beautiful hair flowing behind her.

Betty was a licensed cosmetologist, and she was the reason people shopped at the many grocery stores she worked in. She started at Gilmour grocery in Kittitas; from there she made many memories at Prairie Market, Meads-Mark-It Foods, and finally retiring from Fred Meyer in Ellensburg. 43 years ago, she married George Williams, Jr. George was the love of her life and showed her unconditional love from beginning to end. They both enjoyed being part of the Law Enforcement family, glamping, family, and of course the beach. Betty was famous for greeting customers with a genuine smile and a heartfelt thank you at the end of providing service.

Betty had a wonderful life spent loving on her husband, her kids, her grandkids and her community. Betty was preceded in death by her parents, two infant sisters, half-brothers Fred Gilmour III and Wesley Gilmour, and two special dogs, Jessie and Buddy.

Betty is survived by her loving family including husband George Williams, Jr., daughter Crystal (Phil) Church, son Nicholas Williams, and stepson Sam (Sara) Williams, as well as three grandsons, Tyler Church, Cooper Church and Lucas Williams; three granddaughters, Alex Stevens, Blaekly Williams, and Londyn Williams; sister Susan (Gilmour) Brown; and brothers Robert and Jerry Gilmour. Betty also had numerous nieces and nephews who have many loving memories of their auntie Betty. Betty was an amazing woman. She loved spending time with family, loved the ocean, the sand, and a good pair of flip-flops. Her passing leaves a hole in the fabric of the tapestry we call home, the Kittitas County.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the Gretchen Weller Foundation whose mission is, “Love Big. We provide comfort and stress relief to families in Kittitas County living with Cancer”, as well as April Grant and Elena James from KVH Hospice.

Please join us for a celebration of life on January 29th at 11 AM in the commons of the Kittitas Secondary School.

Johnston & Williams Funeral Home of Ellensburg has been entrusted with caring for Betty and her family.  Online condolences may be left at www.johnston-williams.com