uncle Lyle with my father, Bill Williams, and my little sister my Billee, in the background, Christmas 1959
uncle Lyle, Tom Lyle Williams with googly glasses and cap
My sister Donna, Billee and me in the Surrey.
My mother, Pauline was pregnant that Christmas and after three girls we were thrilled to have Baby Preston join our family the next Christmas in 1960.
William Preston Williams lll made our family complete and was the best gift of all on Christmas 1960.
Sharrie, Donna, Billee and Baby Preston
We moved into our home on Lenawee in Culver City in 1956, the year it was built and uncle Lyle spent every Christmas with us here, through 1967, the year he sold the Maybelline Company.
We moved to Newport Beach in 1969 and sold the house on Lenawee in 1971. Today, 56 years later it's still the cutest house on the block and carries all the special memories of Christmas our childhood and the happiest years of our lives.
left to right, Sharrie, Bill, Tom Lyle, Billee, Pauline, Donna and Nana, Evelyn Williams and our little poodle, Pepsi.
Uncle Lyle's last Christmas with us in 1967. He had just sold the Maybelline Company to Plough Inc. and our lives were about to change forever.
Merry Christmas everyone and thank you for following the Maybelline Book Blog all year...
Last pictures of Maybelline founderTom Lyle Williams in California, taken in 1973.
I was lucky enough to bring my fiance, Gene Dorney up to meet my Unk Ile, a couple months before we were married. I remember my great uncle saying to me, "Gene is very intelligent, and you are very thoughtful." Those were the last words spoken to me and I never saw my beloved uncle again. He began to decline fast and wanted us to remember him as he had always been - strong, vital and handsome.
This picture was taken at the Bel Air estate - uncle Chet, me, Preston, auntie Mabel, Billee, Nana, Unk Ile and Donna, 1973. It was Mabel and Chet's last visit to California. I remember a bitter sweet feeling, knowing this was the last time I'd ever see them. I was 25, about to be married and start a new life with Gene, but there was a sadness about that day I still can feel today. The end of an era was about to take place.
uncle Chet, Jean and Noel Williams. Unk Ile always had flowers on the piano and coffee table when the family came to visit. I think the expression on Noel's face was somber and reflective, because he could see how gaunt and thin Unk Ile looked, a Shadow of the man he had always been.
Nana, auntie Mabel and uncle Chet. Who would have believed the terrible fate that was facing my grandmother that day in 1973. She was 72 here and continued to look youthful to her last day. Sweet auntie Mabel the namesake for Maybelline was so opposite from Nana and many times I wished we could have had a grandmother more like her. Uncle Chet was a great man, strong and steady and I loved him like a grandfather.
My sister Donna, Billee and my little brother Preston. I remember Nana bought us all new clothes for the occasion, insisting we look casual yet elegant. She was good that way, always wanted us to live up to her standards right to the end. Now stay tuned as I walk down the isle with Gene, at my father's estate in Palm Springs. For the whole story please get your signed copy of the Maybelline Story for $14.99 at http://www.maybellinestory.com/
Preston Williams lll remembers taking a joy ride in his dad's XKE.
Dads 1971 Jag XKE V12, was quite fast. I remember doing one of those joy rides, unbeknownst to Dad, who was at the condo in Newport Beach. Tom and I had just driven out of the gates of Casa de Guillermo, turned right on to Patencio Road and then pulled onto the dirt shoulder side of the road, to test it's pony's. I threw it into low drive and punched it! It starting spinning it's wheels throwing dirt and all of a sudden grabbed a rock or something and jerked to the left. The car did a complete 360 circle. The long front end swung around like the hand of a clock and we both saw the wall next to us coming closer and closer as the front end swung around. Thank God the car missed it by the hair of my chiney chin chin, but needless to say that pretty much ended our fun for the day, as we both we freaked out after that!, But tomorrow would come and I am sure we got into something else because I knew where the keys to all the cars were so when dad left.....it was always an adventure! Written by William Preston Williams lll
Author Sharrie Willliams with her brother Preston.
Read more about Bill's son Preston and his roller coaster childhood in Newport Beach and Palm Springs in The Maybelline Story.
