Maurice Alan Williamson, age 77, a beloved husband, father, brother, grampa, friend, and a 43-year resident of Colville, Washington, passed away at the home he loved on March 3, 2024. Maurice, also affectionately known as Morry, Reece, The Pike, and a few other choice words, was born on December 28,1946 in Louisiana, Pike County, Missouri, the son of JD and Mary (Ayrom) Williamson.

He was raised in the idyllic Mississippi River town of Clarksville, MO where he attended first grade through high school. His father was a veterinarian, and his mother a talented quilter who owned a handcraft shop. He was the oldest of five children. Maurice graduated in 1964 from Clopton High School and then continued his education at the University of Missouri in Columbia. While attending college, he began a courtship with Donna Jo Duvall, a smart and kind home town girl he had known since first grade. In 1965 they exchanged vows and entered into their 59-year marriage. While still college students, they welcomed their first daughter, Denise, in 1966. Maurice completed his bachelor's degree in Forest Management and began his career as a forester, moving with his family to Omak and then Vancouver, WA, where he worked for the Department of Natural Resources. Their family grew again in 1970 with the birth of their second daughter, Darla. They followed Maurice's professional forester opportunities to communities including Newcastle, WY, Magnolia, AR, and Spokane, WA. While in Spokane Maurice worked for the San Poil Mill in Republic, WA. In 1981, they planted their roots in Colville, where they would watch their girls grow and later graduate. Maurice owned and operated Maurice Williamson Consulting Forestry for over 40 years in Colville. Maurice and Donna built their home on a rural Aladdin Valley property, where they could welcome grandchildren, enjoy a touch of farm life reminiscent of happy childhood memories on the Williamson grandparents' farm, and sit on the deck soaking in the impeccable view, which Maurice appreciated every day, proclaiming it to be "God's Country."

Maurice had a wonderful sense of humor and liked to inspire smiles by poking a bit of fun at his girls. They lovingly nick-named him "Morry," a name which stuck. His work ethic was a simple equation of 6 days a week, always with church on Sunday. He embedded his faith, values, and work ethic in his daughters through expectations and chores of chopping and stacking wood, working the garden, vehicle maintenance, home projects and improvements, and academic, athletic, and extra-curricular school excellence. As a father, he never missed a moment to help and support Denise and Darla and encouraged them to strive for their best and attain their goals. His bit gruff, cantankerous and stubborn task-master exterior quickly opened to his heart of gold, intellect, generosity, marshmallow soft feelings, kindness, and often sentimental tears. He was an avid outdoorsman with surprisingly refined tastes for classical music, fine cooking, and a subscription to "Bon Appetit" to expand his culinary skills. Following in his mother's tradition, he loved to cook and share his latest dishes with friends, family, and he even cooked for large church groups.

With Maurice, family came first, and they traveled for yearly holiday gatherings in Missouri, family trips to Glacier National Park, Yellowstone, the Redwoods, Puerto Vallarta, fishing trips, and his final bucket list vacation, a cruise to Alaska. He rebounded basketballs and warmed bleachers, attended band concerts (he had been a drummer himself), chauffeured the Colville Float in many community parades with the Carlson and Kroiss families, and drove the Puke-Mobile around the state to cheer the basketball girls with the Clarks and Andersons. He led sledding parties and bonfires, gave regular tractor rides to grandkids during every visit, gathered family for big Christmas celebrations, attended church, and called family weekly and his devoted sister Mercedes daily, to stay in touch. He often reminisced of mischievous activities with high school friends Rex, Rusty, Jim, and Frank, of funny childhood memories with siblings and his parents, and of his family roots on the farm with his grandparents. He enjoyed building those same memories with his grandchildren at his "Morry's Mountain" farmette and orchard.

Maurice contributed to the world through his professional forestry work and community projects, and supported Donna in her tireless volunteer service with the church, hospital, schools, Senior Center, and Meals on Wheels. As a 55-year member of the Society of American Foresters, Maurice was among the first certified professional foresters recognized by the Society and was proud to note his certification was number 27 out of the entire United States. He lobbied for professional forestry certification standards to ensure sustainable forests will continue to provide wildlife, water, recreation, timber and forest product benefits for generations of Washington residents. He was State President of the Washington Farm Forestry Association (1993-1997), received a special recognition award for his Professional Forestry lifetime service, and was an active member of the Washington Forest Protection Association. Known as a champion for small forest landowners and a forest industry statesman, Maurice served as a valued advisor on timber management, contract negotiations, and worked with stakeholders and policymakers on timber policy for 42 years. He also actively supported many successful state and local political campaigns and was a proud Republican to the end!

Maurice was a loyal friend who worked long past retirement age, in part because he treasured morning coffee gatherings with his work family, which over the years included Jack, Bob, Jim, Terry, Brett, Sherry, Dick, Wayne, Duane, Tony, Rod, John, Magen, and many other beloved colleagues.

Maurice was preceded in death by his parents, JD and Mary, and 2 siblings, Mark Williamson and Melody Webber. He is survived by wife Donna Williamson; daughters, Denise Greer (Greg) and Darla Roberts (Toby) of Tacoma, WA; 7 grandchildren: Mitchell, Aaron, Joe and Georgia Greer, Judy, Margy and George Roberts; siblings Mercedes Williamson and Mona White of Ft. Myers, FL; in-laws Bootsie and Duke Duvall of St. Louis, Deb and Ralph Peppers of Eustis, FL; numerous other nieces, nephews, and cousins, and a host of extended family and friends.

A memorial service for Morry will begin at 1:00 p.m., Friday, April 19, 2024 at the Colville Community Church. Pastor Duke Duvall will officiate the service. Memorial contributions may be given to the Washington Farm Forestry Association Scholarship Fund or the Stevens County GOP. Please visit the online memorial and sign the guestbook at www.danekasfuneralchapel.com. Danekas Funeral Chapel & Crematory is entrusted with the arrangements.

In Maurice's honor, the Northeast Washington Forest Coalition has created The Maurice Williamson Memorial Forestry Scholarship, directed towards students from Stevens, Pend Oreille, Ferry, and Okanogan counties planning to study in a forestry/natural resource field at a 2-year, 4-year, or graduate level post-secondary education level.  for additional information, contribution and submission requirements, please contact Taylor Jones NEWFC Treasurer at: newfcinfo@gmail.com . All submissions are due by 5:00 p.m. PST, May 17, 2024.