Lorena (Biz) Williamson

Lorena (Biz) Williamson passed away on July 20 at the age of 97 at Olathe Hospice, after a brief illness.

Lorena Jane (Biz) Bisbee Williamson was born to William Issac Bisbee and Zania Lorena Rebecca Marrs Bisbee in Plains, Kansas on April 11, 1927.  She lived on a farm and “did all the things done a farm” to quote her.  Biz (a nickname that arose from her maiden name) attended the Plains, Kansas schools with the exception of her junior year when she was in Bentonville, Arkansas first semester and in Bucklin, Kansas her second semester.  She had a cousin in Bucklin which made the short attendance there a better experience.  She returned to Plains for her senior year and graduated from Plains High School in 1945.  Biz attended Ottawa University in Ottawa, Kansas where she met her husband, Charles Williamson. Biz and Chuck married in December of 1948 and she and graduated from college in June of 1949.

She taught school for one year before starting their family and then returned to teaching PE after Steve, Jim, and Stacy were in school.  Her summers were filled with gardening, canning, tending flower beds, and taking care of her kids.  After the kids were out of the house, Chuck and Biz spent summers in Silverton, Colorado where Chuck started High Country Antiques.  Biz retired from teaching in 1981 and Chuck died that fall.  For several years, Biz continued to run the antique store in Colorado and spend her summers in Silverton.

Biz and Chuck both were big game hunters, which was an unusual interest for a woman in the 1950’s.  They traveled to British Columbia and Alaska hunting as well as doing local game hunting.

Biz received a Master’s Degree at Emporia and continued her teaching career which lasted 24 years.  Initially, she taught PE at the Ottawa Middle School and High School. When the new high school was built, she continued her career at the high school level.  She was an early advocate for women in sports and actually had weightlifting for girls in PE.  For years, she coached girls’ volleyball without being paid while male volleyball coaches received a stipend.  Those were the days.

She resided at Holiday Island in Arkansas for 17 years before returning to Kansas to live with her daughter, Stacy, in Lawrence.  She was a person of strong faith and attended Westside Presbyterian Church in Lawrence.  The last year and a half, Biz resided at Wellsville Retirement Community.

Biz was preceded in death by a grandchild, Jamie Skinner in 2021.  She is survived by her three children, Steve Williamson of Ottawa, Kansas; Jim Williamson (Kathryn) of Pomona, Kansas; and Stacy Keeling (Lawrence, Kansas); two grandchildren, Jacob Williamson (Carrie) of Gardner, Kansas and Gina Skinner of Lawrence, Kansas.   Two great grandchildren also survive, Sigourney and Simon Williamson of Gardner, Kansas as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Salvation Army or Westside Presbyterian Church in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence.