Williams, Raymond E.

Raymond E. Williams, 94, of rural Iowa City, died Tuesday, June 19, 2012, at his home, surrounded by his family. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 23, at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City, with burial to follow at Memory Gardens Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p. m. Friday at the funeral home.

Raymond Edward Williams was born Dec. 21, 1917, in Johnson County, Iowa, the son of Carl and Anna Stevens Williams. He attended University High School as a young adult. On Aug. 18, 1941, he was united in marriage to Adeline Tomas in Nashua, Iowa. Adeline died Dec. 2, 1972. He married Linda M. Barnes on July 6, 1978, at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church in Iowa City.

Ray spent his entire life on the farm, a career he loved and could not give up even after retirement in 2006. Ray could be seen moving snow with his new tractor, or mowing the grass. In addition to his farming he has enjoyed driving school bus for Iowa City Schools for many years, drove transport trucks for C.H. Wilson, and whenever someone needed a hand, Ray was there without asking, always willing to help.

He was a member of the Moose Lodge, Eagles Lodge, Cattleman's Association, had been a director for the Federal Land Bank, and a member of St. Andrew Presbyterian Church.

He was the kind of guy who would wake in the morning smiling, ready to start a new day, sharing his optimism with all around him. Ray had a sense of humor that drew people to him. He was a self-made engineer who could figure out, build and fix anything that needed to be done.

Ray held Special Olympics very near and dear to his heart, volunteering and supporting in ways that he could. While his former wife, Adeline, and daughter, Terry, were struggling with health issues, he was there to care for them, even if it meant him driving to Chicago to help Terry and her family out. He loved his family, and was able to take them on a cruise to the Panama Canal in December 2011, a life time goal.

His family includes his wife, Linda; daughter, Connie Williams (Max Ewalt) of Davenport; stepdaughter, who he raised as his own, Shelli Lynn Meyer of Frytown; grandchildren, Timothy Carmichael (Noelle), Christina Carmichael (Joel Bardsley), Carley Meyer Miller and Maverick Meyer Miller; three great-grandchildren, Finnean Williams Carmichael, Niamh Margaret Carmichael, and Lukas Brady Bardsley; son-in-law, Douglas Carmichael of West Mount, Ill.; sister, Carralee Sueppel (James) of Iowa City; sister-in-law, Evelyn Lie of West Branch; brother and sister-in-law, James and Gladys Christensen of Iowa City; Linda's side of the family, Al and Carolyn Barnes of Bristol, Ind., Louise and Joe Carpenter of Iowa City, Alice and Dave McAllister of Tiffin, Art and Julie Barnes of Iowa City, Naomi Barnes of Ankeny, Marilyn and Charlie Thomas of Peoria, Ill., Diane and Tom Peak of Riverside, Becky and Terry Cossel of Philadelphia, Pa., and Roger and Tina Barnes of West Branch; and many nieces and nephews.

Ray was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Adeline; daughter, Terry; brother and his wife, Herb and Betty Williams; and brother, Clyde Williams.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Raymond's memory to either the Johnson County or Scott County chapters of NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) or Scott County Special Olympics.

Online condolences may be sent for his family through the Web at www.gayandciha.com.

Published June 22, 2012 in The Gazette