Burnet and this entire section of Burnet County were deeply saddened Thursday morning when word came that Dr. J. L. Williamson was dead. He had been critically ill for some time, and for almost three weeks had been under treatment at the Scott & White Hospital in Temple. When he was first stricken, his family and many friends had hope for his ultimate recovery, but during the past few weeks they realized that the end was only a matter of days, but this did not lessen the shock and grief of his passing.

      The body was prepared for burial by the Briggs-Gamel Funeral Home of Lampasas, and his funeral service was held at 4:00 o’clock, Friday afternoon in the First Baptist Church of Burnet, conducted by its pastor, Rev. R. E. Harrison, who paid a glowing and deserved tribute to the life and services of Dr. Williamson as a man and physician. The active pallbearers were Earl Foulds, Harry Galloway, T. O. Whitaker, W. H. Smith, F. H. Hammond and O. A. Riggs. Honorary pallbearers were C. V. Percy, Paul Sheridan and W. Lee Yarborough. The flower girls were Mrs. Tom O’Donnell, Mrs. Matt Zimmerman and Mrs. Guy Zimmerman. Interment was in the Odd Fellows’ Cemetery.

      Dr. Williamson was born near Athens, Texas on June 9th, 1878; died August 24th, 1944. On March 17th, 1904 he was united in marriage to Miss Addie Finklea, who survives him. He is also survived by four children, J. K. Williamson of burnet, Miss Marie Williamson of Burnet, L. A. Williamson of San Angelo, Mrs. T. A. Loveless of Globe, Arizona, one sister, Mrs. Ira Burnett of Canton, Texas, a brother, J. C. Williamson of Dallas, and two half sisters, Mrs. Theo. Walker and Mrs. Ted Simmons of Athens.

      Relatives from a distance who attended the funeral were: Mrs. W. F. Williamson of Dallas, Mrs. J. M. Ralston of Gainsville, Mrs. P. H. Smith of Houston, Mr. and Mrs. T. P. Finklea of Houston, Mrs. Albert Scott of Llano, Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Burnett of Canton, Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Burnett of Tyler, Mrs. Ira Burnett of Canton, Mrs. Ted Simmons of Trinidad, Mrs. Thos. Walker of Athens, J. C. Williamson of Dallas, Mrs. Nellie Mae Brown of San Antonio, Walter and Ted Spurlin of San Antonio, Mrs. John Cauncy of Lubbock, Mrs. And Mrs. Rheindardt of Austin, and Mr. Milton Rheindardt of Austin.

      Dr. Williamson moved to Burnet about 30 years ago, and had been constantly engaged in the practice of medicine in this section since that time. He soon established himself as a physician of superior ability and built up a very large and lucrative practice, extending into many sections of Burnet county. He had been overworked before the war started, but since that time, after so many of the doctors had gone into the armed services,  he performed double duty, which was too much for a man of his age. His family and friends for months had urged him to curtail some of his work, but he considered it his duty to the public to remain on his feet. This writer thinks Dr. Williamson was a casualty of the war just the same as men who have fallen on the battle fields. He was deeply concerned about the war and perhaps was the heaviest investor in war bonds of any person in Burnet county. Any movement calculated to help the war and relieve the arduous duties of those engaged in actual hostilities, always received his hearty and active support financially and otherwise. Like Dayton Moses, he prayed that he might live to see the end of the horrible conflict, but such was not to be.

      Added to his ability as a physician, Dr. Williamson possessed other attributes of character that endeared him to many friends. He was a pleasant and entertaining companion, a loving father and husband, and a bulwark for the Baptist church. Since the war started, frequently when we would meet, Dr. Williamson would tell the writer he was working too steadily and to taper off a little. When we would reply and ask him how about himself, he would laugh and say that both of us would keep on as long as we could stand he guessed.

      Dr. Williamson will be missed by many people, some of whom have depended upon him for more than a quarter of a century for medical care and advise for their families. Burnet will not seem right without him, but death will come to us all, sooner or later, and all of us have to become reconciled to the inevitable.

      Mrs. Williamson and the sons and daughters have the profound sympathy of the people of their home town and adjoining communities in their irreparable loss.