Obituary - Romey J. Williams, Sr.

Tuesday, July 10, 2001
THE JUNEAU EMPIRE

Romey James Williams Sr., 75, died July 5, 2001, at the Sitka Pioneers' Home.

He was born July 4, 1926, in Metlakatla and graduated from Sheldon Jackson High School. In 1953, Williams married June Fowler in Metlakatla. After their marriage, the couple moved to Oakland, Calif., where Williams worked as a truck driver and joined the Teamsters Union. The family moved back to Metlakatla in 1972 and Williams worked as a groundskeeper for the Annette Island School District.

His family wrote that Williams felt God calling him to join the sobriety ministry in 1975 and remained sober until the time of his death.

He was a pastor at the Hoonah Presbyterian Church from 1985 to 1986 and was also a preacher in other churches in Alaska, Iowa and Wisconsin. He attended the University of Dubuque-Presbytarian Seminary in 1987. In 1995, Williams became an ordained minister with the Assembly of God Church while also being a pastor in Kake, Metlakatla and Saxman.

He is survived by his wife June Williams of Metlakatla; son Patrick Williams of Ketchikan; daughters Eileen John of Juneau, Darlene Booth of Ketchikan, Millie Kennedy of Wash., and adopted daughter Patricia Williams of Metlakatla; grandchildren Milo Booth, Brandon Williams, Bruce Booth, Billy Arnold, Romey Arnold, Danielle Williams, Darcel Williams, Carly Booth, Disney Williams, Jessie Kaleikau and Ahulani Kaleikau; great-grandchildren Briar Williams, Violet Kito and Mya Shearer; brothers Fred Williams Sr. and Ralph Williams; sisters LaVerne Mallory, Doris Olsen, Barbara Fawcett and Frieda Nathan; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers were Milo Booth, Brandon Williams, Romey Arnold, Bruce Booth, Billy Arnold, Bill Wilson, Daniel Williams and Nathan Fawcett.

Honorary pallbearers were Ralph Williams, Leif Jensen, John Fawcett Sr., Ed Booth, Patrick Verney Sr., George Haldane, Francis Haldane, Richard Dundas Sr., Larry Johnson Sr., Ed Littlefield Sr., Cyril George, Conrad Ryan Jr., Fred Williams Sr., Harry Olsen Sr., Lloyd Williams Jr., Ben Eaton, Leo Guthrie Sr., Marvin Atkinson Sr., Buddy Lang, Lyle Horne Sr., Ted Littlefield Sr., Fritz Blandov, John Major, Robert Kennedy, Delbert John, Chuck Dunne and Dennis Dunne.

A funeral was held July 9, 2001, at the Metlakatla Presbyterian Church.