Joseph Marlis Williams, 77, passed away Oct. 20, 2016, in Surprise, Ariz., after a long courageous battle with prostate cancer.

He was born Dec. 5, 1938, in Blackfoot, Idaho, to Joseph Marsden and Phyllis Cutforth Williams. He married Noreen Elizabeth Hansen on Dec. 5, 1961, in Idaho Falls. They divorced in 1999. He then married Kuralay Pirmantayeva on Jan. 12, 2002, in Phoenix, Ariz.

Growing up in Idaho Falls, Marlis learned at a young age the value and joy of work by helping his family on the ranch. He loved horses, anything with a motor and sports as a young man and always enjoyed a good laugh and a bit of mischief with friends. He ran track, wrestled, dove and played football in both high school and college. He studied at Ricks College (now Brigham Young University - Idaho) and graduated from Utah State University in Logan, Utah, with a degree in automotive technology. He was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in many callings throughout his life, including serving a two-year New Zealand North Mission. He enjoyed racing and setting records in the NHRA BB Funny Car Class and had a long career as an automobile engineer for General Motors Corp., the Chrysler Corp., Subaru Motors, Mitsubishi Motors and Kia.

He is survived by his wife of 14 years, Kuralay Pirmantayeva Williams; his children, Ray Williams of Corona, Calif., Tom and Marleen Morris of Anaheim, Calif., Douglas Williams of Kailua, Hawaii, Michael and Randi Williams of Corona and Brandon and Tammy Gallup of Prosper, Texas; his sister and brothers, Bonnie (Ken) Thompson, Nancy Stewart, Marjorie (Gaylord) Karren, Doug (Rozanne) Williams, Tom (Debbie) Williams, Wendy (Rob) Clark and Shannon (James) Ostler; 17 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren with two on the way; many nieces and nephews; and numerous friends.

Marlis is preceded in death by his parents, Joseph Marsden and Phyllis Williams; daughter, Shauna Lee Williams; grandson, Scott Michael Baker; and nephew, Casey Williams.

Marlis' family would like to express their deep appreciation to the staff for their excellent care.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, at Paradise Valley Ward Chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 3601 E. Shea Blvd., in Phoenix. A viewing will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday at the church in Phoenix. Interment will be at Fielding Memorial Field in Idaho Falls at a later date.

Memorial donations may be made to the Prostate Cancer Foundation in Marlis' honor.



Published in Post Register Oct. 28, 2016