A wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and caregiver, Ethel Williams, left her earthly existence on July 17, 2018, at Southwood Health Care Center, where she had resided for more than eight years. She was 99. She was born Nov. 5, 1918, on Larimer Hill, West Terre Haute, to Grace (Collins) Creasey and John Creasey, and was one of 11 children.
Ethel was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Maurice "Reese" Williams; brothers, John, Earl, Howard, Ray, Carl, Don, and Paul; sisters, Florence Creasey and Marie Jeffries; a beloved daughter-in-law, Patricia "Patty" Williams; and a special nephew, John Creasey.
She is survived by a sister, Doyne Miller; a daughter, Deanna Thompson Mott; a son, Tom Williams; grandsons, Bobby (Robin) Thompson, Jay (Dove) Thompson, Paul Williams, David Williams, and Tommy Williams; seven great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren; two special nieces, Marilyn Williams and Gloria Robbins; as well as numerous other nieces and nephews.
Ethel married Reese Williams on Easter Sunday, March 28, 1936, in a popular dance hall, where Reese was a band member. The dance hall advertised "a big surprise" for the evening's patrons and there was a typical, large crowd. After a few songs were played, including Stardust, which Reese played on his trumpet, he stepped down from the bandstand. The band suddenly began playing the wedding march as Reese stood at the end of the middle aisle and greeted his bride as she walked toward him on the arm of her mother. A surprise indeed.
They had two children of their own and later on became legal guardians of a nephew. They really enjoyed being parents and ultimately grandparents. Their eldest grandson early on dubbed them, "Mammy" and "Pappy." The names stuck and consequently all of the grandchildren and great-grandchildren called them by those affectionate names.
The Williams' home was a happy and comforting place. A great, old fashioned cook, if you left Ethel's kitchen hungry, it was your own fault. And if someone, whether family or friend, needed a place to stay for a night, a week, or a year, the Williams' door was always open. They never failed to make birthdays and holidays fun. Everyone looked forward to them. Ethel's food, decorations and gifts under the tree made the family's Christmas Eve parties memorable, but Pappy's eggnog made them legendary. Unfortunately, Reese/Daddy/Pappy, passed away too soon on Dec. 23, 1990, 24 hours before his favorite day of the year.
Among her many talents, Ethel also was a supervisor in mail openings at CBS. She retired after 25 years of service.
As their song, Stardust, plays in the background, we trust that Reese will, once again, step down from the bandstand....this time, he will reunite with his bride at the end of her journey and take her home.
Family and friends will bid this unforgettable treasure, Ethel/Mother/Mammy, a loving farewell Saturday, July 21, 2018. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Samaritan Funeral Home, 2425 Wabash Ave., in Terre Haute. At 1 p.m., Marta Adubato will officiate a celebration of life service. Graveside service will follow at Highland Lawn Cemetery.
Published in the Terre Haute Tribune Star on July 18, 2018
Ethel was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Maurice "Reese" Williams; brothers, John, Earl, Howard, Ray, Carl, Don, and Paul; sisters, Florence Creasey and Marie Jeffries; a beloved daughter-in-law, Patricia "Patty" Williams; and a special nephew, John Creasey.
She is survived by a sister, Doyne Miller; a daughter, Deanna Thompson Mott; a son, Tom Williams; grandsons, Bobby (Robin) Thompson, Jay (Dove) Thompson, Paul Williams, David Williams, and Tommy Williams; seven great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren; two special nieces, Marilyn Williams and Gloria Robbins; as well as numerous other nieces and nephews.
Ethel married Reese Williams on Easter Sunday, March 28, 1936, in a popular dance hall, where Reese was a band member. The dance hall advertised "a big surprise" for the evening's patrons and there was a typical, large crowd. After a few songs were played, including Stardust, which Reese played on his trumpet, he stepped down from the bandstand. The band suddenly began playing the wedding march as Reese stood at the end of the middle aisle and greeted his bride as she walked toward him on the arm of her mother. A surprise indeed.
They had two children of their own and later on became legal guardians of a nephew. They really enjoyed being parents and ultimately grandparents. Their eldest grandson early on dubbed them, "Mammy" and "Pappy." The names stuck and consequently all of the grandchildren and great-grandchildren called them by those affectionate names.
The Williams' home was a happy and comforting place. A great, old fashioned cook, if you left Ethel's kitchen hungry, it was your own fault. And if someone, whether family or friend, needed a place to stay for a night, a week, or a year, the Williams' door was always open. They never failed to make birthdays and holidays fun. Everyone looked forward to them. Ethel's food, decorations and gifts under the tree made the family's Christmas Eve parties memorable, but Pappy's eggnog made them legendary. Unfortunately, Reese/Daddy/Pappy, passed away too soon on Dec. 23, 1990, 24 hours before his favorite day of the year.
Among her many talents, Ethel also was a supervisor in mail openings at CBS. She retired after 25 years of service.
As their song, Stardust, plays in the background, we trust that Reese will, once again, step down from the bandstand....this time, he will reunite with his bride at the end of her journey and take her home.
Family and friends will bid this unforgettable treasure, Ethel/Mother/Mammy, a loving farewell Saturday, July 21, 2018. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Samaritan Funeral Home, 2425 Wabash Ave., in Terre Haute. At 1 p.m., Marta Adubato will officiate a celebration of life service. Graveside service will follow at Highland Lawn Cemetery.
Published in the Terre Haute Tribune Star on July 18, 2018
A wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and caregiver, Ethel Williams, left her earthly existence on July 17, 2018, at Southwood Health Care Center, where she had resided for more than eight years. She was 99. She was born Nov. 5, 1918, on Larimer Hill, West Terre Haute, to Grace (Collins) Creasey and John Creasey, and was one of 11 children.
Ethel was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Maurice "Reese" Williams; brothers, John, Earl, Howard, Ray, Carl, Don, and Paul; sisters, Florence Creasey and Marie Jeffries; a beloved daughter-in-law, Patricia "Patty" Williams; and a special nephew, John Creasey.
She is survived by a sister, Doyne Miller; a daughter, Deanna Thompson Mott; a son, Tom Williams; grandsons, Bobby (Robin) Thompson, Jay (Dove) Thompson, Paul Williams, David Williams, and Tommy Williams; seven great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren; two special nieces, Marilyn Williams and Gloria Robbins; as well as numerous other nieces and nephews.
Ethel married Reese Williams on Easter Sunday, March 28, 1936, in a popular dance hall, where Reese was a band member. The dance hall advertised "a big surprise" for the evening's patrons and there was a typical, large crowd. After a few songs were played, including Stardust, which Reese played on his trumpet, he stepped down from the bandstand. The band suddenly began playing the wedding march as Reese stood at the end of the middle aisle and greeted his bride as she walked toward him on the arm of her mother. A surprise indeed.
They had two children of their own and later on became legal guardians of a nephew. They really enjoyed being parents and ultimately grandparents. Their eldest grandson early on dubbed them, "Mammy" and "Pappy." The names stuck and consequently all of the grandchildren and great-grandchildren called them by those affectionate names.
The Williams' home was a happy and comforting place. A great, old fashioned cook, if you left Ethel's kitchen hungry, it was your own fault. And if someone, whether family or friend, needed a place to stay for a night, a week, or a year, the Williams' door was always open. They never failed to make birthdays and holidays fun. Everyone looked forward to them. Ethel's food, decorations and gifts under the tree made the family's Christmas Eve parties memorable, but Pappy's eggnog made them legendary. Unfortunately, Reese/Daddy/Pappy, passed away too soon on Dec. 23, 1990, 24 hours before his favorite day of the year.
Among her many talents, Ethel also was a supervisor in mail openings at CBS. She retired after 25 years of service.
As their song, Stardust, plays in the background, we trust that Reese will, once again, step down from the bandstand....this time, he will reunite with his bride at the end of her journey and take her home.
Family and friends will bid this unforgettable treasure, Ethel/Mother/Mammy, a loving farewell Saturday, July 21, 2018. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Samaritan Funeral Home, 2425 Wabash Ave., in Terre Haute. At 1 p.m., Marta Adubato will officiate a celebration of life service. Graveside service will follow at Highland Lawn Cemetery.
Published in the Terre Haute Tribune Star on July 18, 2018
Ethel was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Maurice "Reese" Williams; brothers, John, Earl, Howard, Ray, Carl, Don, and Paul; sisters, Florence Creasey and Marie Jeffries; a beloved daughter-in-law, Patricia "Patty" Williams; and a special nephew, John Creasey.
She is survived by a sister, Doyne Miller; a daughter, Deanna Thompson Mott; a son, Tom Williams; grandsons, Bobby (Robin) Thompson, Jay (Dove) Thompson, Paul Williams, David Williams, and Tommy Williams; seven great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren; two special nieces, Marilyn Williams and Gloria Robbins; as well as numerous other nieces and nephews.
Ethel married Reese Williams on Easter Sunday, March 28, 1936, in a popular dance hall, where Reese was a band member. The dance hall advertised "a big surprise" for the evening's patrons and there was a typical, large crowd. After a few songs were played, including Stardust, which Reese played on his trumpet, he stepped down from the bandstand. The band suddenly began playing the wedding march as Reese stood at the end of the middle aisle and greeted his bride as she walked toward him on the arm of her mother. A surprise indeed.
They had two children of their own and later on became legal guardians of a nephew. They really enjoyed being parents and ultimately grandparents. Their eldest grandson early on dubbed them, "Mammy" and "Pappy." The names stuck and consequently all of the grandchildren and great-grandchildren called them by those affectionate names.
The Williams' home was a happy and comforting place. A great, old fashioned cook, if you left Ethel's kitchen hungry, it was your own fault. And if someone, whether family or friend, needed a place to stay for a night, a week, or a year, the Williams' door was always open. They never failed to make birthdays and holidays fun. Everyone looked forward to them. Ethel's food, decorations and gifts under the tree made the family's Christmas Eve parties memorable, but Pappy's eggnog made them legendary. Unfortunately, Reese/Daddy/Pappy, passed away too soon on Dec. 23, 1990, 24 hours before his favorite day of the year.
Among her many talents, Ethel also was a supervisor in mail openings at CBS. She retired after 25 years of service.
As their song, Stardust, plays in the background, we trust that Reese will, once again, step down from the bandstand....this time, he will reunite with his bride at the end of her journey and take her home.
Family and friends will bid this unforgettable treasure, Ethel/Mother/Mammy, a loving farewell Saturday, July 21, 2018. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Samaritan Funeral Home, 2425 Wabash Ave., in Terre Haute. At 1 p.m., Marta Adubato will officiate a celebration of life service. Graveside service will follow at Highland Lawn Cemetery.
Published in the Terre Haute Tribune Star on July 18, 2018
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