Ernest 'Ernie' Glenn Williams, III

Ernest Glenn Williams, III, fondly known as Ernie, passed away on Tuesday, November 18, 2025. Memorial services will be at 2:00 P.M. on Friday, December 5, 2025 at Brooks Chapel in Canyon with Pastor Dwight Kirksey, pastor of Celebration Family Church of Fritch, officiating.

Ernie was born on May 10, 1953 in Canyon to Ernest Glenn and Travis Florine (Chapman) Williams, Jr. He lived his early years in Happy in the house his father built, and they moved to Booker when his father took a position as the Ag teacher at Booker High School. When he was in the 5th grade, his family moved to Canyon and Ernie graduated from Canyon High School in 1971. He joined the Marine Corps later that year and served 18 months overseas in Japan.

Ernie attended West Texas State University for one year, then transferred to Texas Tech. He married Deborah Bruce Burgdorf on August 28, 1976 in Borger, Texas and they began their married life in Austin while attending the University of Texas. He also worked on offshore drilling rigs in the Gulf of Mexico during this time.

In 1979 Ernie and Debbie returned to the panhandle and settled in Stinnett, where they lived for 39 years. Ernie started work at Philtex for the Phillips Chemical Company in 1982, then transferred to Phillips Petroleum Company’s Borger Refinery where he spent most of his 36-year career in the Main Shop as a Pump and Engine Mechanic. He also found time to return to West Texas A&M University to complete his bachelor's degree in 1998. Ernie moved into the Education and Training Department at Phillips before retiring in 2018 and relocating to Canyon to be closer to his kids and grandchildren.

Ernie’s love of the outdoors and gardening led him to become a member of Randall County Master Gardeners in 2021. He was known by his family, friends, and neighbors for his keen knowledge of vegetation, and he was happy to share his expertise and knowledge, often volunteering at the local elementary schools’ gardening projects and the Randall County Extension Agency. He also enjoyed birding, camping, juggling, jigsaw puzzles, and reading biographies and travel narratives, but his greatest and most rewarding love was his family. One could most often find Ernie outdoors, tending to his yard, working in his well-cultivated garden, or riding scooters and enjoying the outdoors with his granddaughters. He had a heart for adopting stray animals, and you rarely saw him outside without his most recent rescue, his much-loved dog, Baxter Black. Ernie was also a longtime member of First Baptist Church of Canyon.

Ernie is preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Jan Williams.

Survivors include his wife of 49 treasured years, Debbie of the home; son Steve Williams and wife, Stephanie of Austin; daughter Lynsee Bjork and husband, Braxton of Canyon; five grandchildren whom he loved dearly, Colin Williams and Dylan Williams of Austin, and Julie Womble, Lauren Womble, and Lilly Bjork of Canyon; one sister, Becky Williams of Amarillo; three brothers, David Williams of Cee Vee, TX, Drew Williams of Panama, and Lane Williams and wife, Nechole of Pleasanton, TX; and several nieces and nephews.

The family suggests memorials be made to Gracie’s Project, graciesproject.com, American Kidney Fund, kidneyfund.org, or to Randall County Master Gardeners, % Randall County Extension Office, 200 Brown Road, Canyon, TX 79015 (please note in the memo: In Memory of Ernie Williams).