Doris Gammell Williamson

Doris Gammell Williamson

February 23, 1929 – July 6, 2025

Doris Gammell Williamson, of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, passed away peacefully at the age of 96, surrounded by family.

Born in Montgomery, Alabama, on February 23, 1929, Doris was the daughter of Marguerite and Karl Gammell. She grew up in Montgomery and graduated from Sidney Lanier High School in 1947. She was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth E. Williamson; her daughter, Sharon Diane; her brother, Edmund Gammell; her twin sister, Dorothy Gammell; and sisters, Mary Ellen Hicks and Elizabeth Gammell.

Doris met Ken on a blind date in 1946, and they married the following year in Montgomery. Ken, a World War II veteran, was completing his engineering degree at The University of Alabama, and they made their first home in Tuscaloosa. Their life took them to Montgomery and Mobile, Alabama; Endicott, New York; and Atlanta, Georgia, before eventually settling in the Fort Walton Beach area in 1954, where they raised their daughters and spent many happy years. In 1986, they became original owners at the 200 West Condominium on Miracle Strip Parkway, where Doris continued to live until her death.

Doris was an avid golfer who played three times a week until back problems made it difficult to continue. She was active in the Fort Walton Beach and Shalimar Pointe Ladies Golf Associations and was a founding member and president of the Vitro Wives Club. She was a lifelong member of the Presbyterian Church and belonged to First Presbyterian Church of Fort Walton Beach.

Doris and Ken shared a love for travel and proudly visited over 20 countries. They logged more than 80,000 miles across the U.S. and Canada in their forty-foot motor coach—always ready for the next adventure. Her motto was, “I can be ready in two hours—where are we going?”

Above all, Doris was devoted to her family. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and an exceptional cook. She took great joy in gathering family around the table and preparing meals that brought everyone together. Known for her kindness, fairness, and deep care for others, Doris leaves behind a legacy of love and strength.

She is survived by her daughter, Pamela Maygarden; grandchildren, Judge Maygarden (Sophie) and Kendall Hampton (Jeff); and great-grandchildren, Conner, Eli, Claire, Sydney, and Aiden.

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