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Ollis Marlon McWilliams, 85, peacefully went to be with our Lord on December 14, 2025 in Las Cruces, New Mexico. He was born on February 14, 1940 in Portales, New Mexico to Ollis Conway and Mavis Maurine McWilliams.
While attending Abilene Christian College in April of 1963 he met the love of his life, Cheryl Kay Dove, whom he married on September 6, 1963, in Ira, Texas. Born to them were two sons, Joe Anthony McWilliams and Doug Lee McWilliams. Marlon was a beloved Church of Christ minister for 42 years in several different cities in Texas and New Mexico. He spent 4 years as the Bible Chair Director for Cameron State University in Lawton, Oklahoma. He moved back to Cloudcroft, New Mexico in 1981 as minister of the Cloudcroft Church of Christ.
Survivors include his wife, Cheryl Kay McWilliams, of Mayhill, New Mexico; a son, Joe "Tony" Anthony McWilliams and his wife, Neenah of Timberon, New Mexico; a sister Beverlee Renae McWilliams-Melban and husband, Charles David Melban of Bushland, Texas; grandkids, Dylan Ross Miller, Kyle Lee McWilliams, Tyler Elizabeth White, Destiny Jean Pawley, Landon Duane Kearns, Cheyanna Worrell, Jenaya Velterie and Samantha Reinhardt; and 6 great grandchildren, Kytana, Oakley, Bryan, Rebekah, Tony Joe "TJ", and Justyn; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by a son, Doug Lee McWilliams (1985); his father, Ollis Conway McWilliams (1994), mother, Mavis Maurine McWilliams (2004); his 3 brothers, James Arlon (2012), Malcom Lee (2005) and Travis Wayne (2021); a sister, Alpha Arleta Fisher (2019); and two grandsons, Bryan Charles Miller (2015) and Justyn Lee Miller (2020).
A celebration of life will be held at the Mayhill Church of Christ on January 3rd at 10 am with Bill Boverie and Gerald Hardesty officiating.
