Edmund Jay Williams, 81, passed away at his home in Menan, Idaho on Friday November 3rd, 2017 of a heart attack.
He leaves behind his wife of nearly three years, Myrna Newman Williams; his nine children, Gerry(Sandy),Alan(Cindy),Laura(Allen),Jennie, Heber(Rebecca),Marie(Chris),Mary(Ben),Scott(Rachel) Hurst, Travis (Mitzi) Layton; 27 grandchildren; thirteen great-grandchildren with more on the way: Step children, Kevin (Cynthia) Newman, Max (Heidi) Newman, Nicole (Brad) Bybee, Spencer (Christine) Newman, Brandy (Bulmaro) Lopez, Dustin (Michelle) Newman, Collin (McKay) Newman, 31 step grandchildren and 7 step great grandchildren who loved him very much, his much loved dog, Daisy; and countless fellow gardening enthusiasts and rock hound friends he's made over the years.
Born and raised in Southeastern Idaho, Ed was the youngest son of Heber and Lola Williams of Hamer ID. He attended school in the small farming town, and it was here he met the love of his life, Arlene Barzee. The two were married shortly after graduating high school, and moved to Utah to attend college. They both graduated from Utah State University, Ed with a Master's degree in Geology and Arlene with a Bachelor's degree in Education. They moved to Rexburg, Idaho, where in the fall of 1964, Ed was hired as a professor at Ricks College. Arguably, his greatest accomplishment while working for the private college was his life-changing class, Field Expedition. Ed's passion for the out of doors didn't stop with his day job. He and Arlene purchased eight acres of rock and sagebrush on a hill east of Rexburg, and turned it into their own Garden of Eden. Soon their expertise in growing all things green turned into a business, Williams Forest Nursery. In later years, they would teach a popular gardening class every spring for Madison County.
Ed and Arlene decided to retire and build their dream home on the volcano in Menan, Idaho not long after Arlene was diagnosed with cancer in 2005.
After the passing of Arlene in 2014, Ed met and married Myrna Newman. Myrna was a great comfort to him and he said many times that without her he wouldn't have survived. Ed was a singer, a self-taught banjo player, and a story teller who greatly enjoyed recounting his tales to a new gang of children and grandchildren.
Ed was preceded in death by his parents, Wife Arlene, Brother Scott, Sister Mary, granddaughter Jenessa, two step grandchildren and one step great grandchild.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 11, 2017 at the Menan L.D.S. Stake Center (698 N. 3600 E. Menan) with Bishop Gary Olaveson Conducting. The family will visit with family, friends, and community on Friday evening from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. and prior to the service on Saturday from 9:30 – 10:45 a.m. both at the Stake Center. Burial will be in the Burton Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Brigham Young University-Idaho Campus Geology Department in Ed's name.
He leaves behind his wife of nearly three years, Myrna Newman Williams; his nine children, Gerry(Sandy),Alan(Cindy),Laura(Allen),Jennie, Heber(Rebecca),Marie(Chris),Mary(Ben),Scott(Rachel) Hurst, Travis (Mitzi) Layton; 27 grandchildren; thirteen great-grandchildren with more on the way: Step children, Kevin (Cynthia) Newman, Max (Heidi) Newman, Nicole (Brad) Bybee, Spencer (Christine) Newman, Brandy (Bulmaro) Lopez, Dustin (Michelle) Newman, Collin (McKay) Newman, 31 step grandchildren and 7 step great grandchildren who loved him very much, his much loved dog, Daisy; and countless fellow gardening enthusiasts and rock hound friends he's made over the years.
Born and raised in Southeastern Idaho, Ed was the youngest son of Heber and Lola Williams of Hamer ID. He attended school in the small farming town, and it was here he met the love of his life, Arlene Barzee. The two were married shortly after graduating high school, and moved to Utah to attend college. They both graduated from Utah State University, Ed with a Master's degree in Geology and Arlene with a Bachelor's degree in Education. They moved to Rexburg, Idaho, where in the fall of 1964, Ed was hired as a professor at Ricks College. Arguably, his greatest accomplishment while working for the private college was his life-changing class, Field Expedition. Ed's passion for the out of doors didn't stop with his day job. He and Arlene purchased eight acres of rock and sagebrush on a hill east of Rexburg, and turned it into their own Garden of Eden. Soon their expertise in growing all things green turned into a business, Williams Forest Nursery. In later years, they would teach a popular gardening class every spring for Madison County.
Ed and Arlene decided to retire and build their dream home on the volcano in Menan, Idaho not long after Arlene was diagnosed with cancer in 2005.
After the passing of Arlene in 2014, Ed met and married Myrna Newman. Myrna was a great comfort to him and he said many times that without her he wouldn't have survived. Ed was a singer, a self-taught banjo player, and a story teller who greatly enjoyed recounting his tales to a new gang of children and grandchildren.
Ed was preceded in death by his parents, Wife Arlene, Brother Scott, Sister Mary, granddaughter Jenessa, two step grandchildren and one step great grandchild.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 11, 2017 at the Menan L.D.S. Stake Center (698 N. 3600 E. Menan) with Bishop Gary Olaveson Conducting. The family will visit with family, friends, and community on Friday evening from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. and prior to the service on Saturday from 9:30 – 10:45 a.m. both at the Stake Center. Burial will be in the Burton Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Brigham Young University-Idaho Campus Geology Department in Ed's name.
Edmund Jay Williams, 81, passed away at his home in Menan, Idaho on Friday November 3rd, 2017 of a heart attack.
He leaves behind his wife of nearly three years, Myrna Newman Williams; his nine children, Gerry(Sandy),Alan(Cindy),Laura(Allen),Jennie, Heber(Rebecca),Marie(Chris),Mary(Ben),Scott(Rachel) Hurst, Travis (Mitzi) Layton; 27 grandchildren; thirteen great-grandchildren with more on the way: Step children, Kevin (Cynthia) Newman, Max (Heidi) Newman, Nicole (Brad) Bybee, Spencer (Christine) Newman, Brandy (Bulmaro) Lopez, Dustin (Michelle) Newman, Collin (McKay) Newman, 31 step grandchildren and 7 step great grandchildren who loved him very much, his much loved dog, Daisy; and countless fellow gardening enthusiasts and rock hound friends he's made over the years.
Born and raised in Southeastern Idaho, Ed was the youngest son of Heber and Lola Williams of Hamer ID. He attended school in the small farming town, and it was here he met the love of his life, Arlene Barzee. The two were married shortly after graduating high school, and moved to Utah to attend college. They both graduated from Utah State University, Ed with a Master's degree in Geology and Arlene with a Bachelor's degree in Education. They moved to Rexburg, Idaho, where in the fall of 1964, Ed was hired as a professor at Ricks College. Arguably, his greatest accomplishment while working for the private college was his life-changing class, Field Expedition. Ed's passion for the out of doors didn't stop with his day job. He and Arlene purchased eight acres of rock and sagebrush on a hill east of Rexburg, and turned it into their own Garden of Eden. Soon their expertise in growing all things green turned into a business, Williams Forest Nursery. In later years, they would teach a popular gardening class every spring for Madison County.
Ed and Arlene decided to retire and build their dream home on the volcano in Menan, Idaho not long after Arlene was diagnosed with cancer in 2005.
After the passing of Arlene in 2014, Ed met and married Myrna Newman. Myrna was a great comfort to him and he said many times that without her he wouldn't have survived. Ed was a singer, a self-taught banjo player, and a story teller who greatly enjoyed recounting his tales to a new gang of children and grandchildren.
Ed was preceded in death by his parents, Wife Arlene, Brother Scott, Sister Mary, granddaughter Jenessa, two step grandchildren and one step great grandchild.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 11, 2017 at the Menan L.D.S. Stake Center (698 N. 3600 E. Menan) with Bishop Gary Olaveson Conducting. The family will visit with family, friends, and community on Friday evening from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. and prior to the service on Saturday from 9:30 – 10:45 a.m. both at the Stake Center. Burial will be in the Burton Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Brigham Young University-Idaho Campus Geology Department in Ed's name.
He leaves behind his wife of nearly three years, Myrna Newman Williams; his nine children, Gerry(Sandy),Alan(Cindy),Laura(Allen),Jennie, Heber(Rebecca),Marie(Chris),Mary(Ben),Scott(Rachel) Hurst, Travis (Mitzi) Layton; 27 grandchildren; thirteen great-grandchildren with more on the way: Step children, Kevin (Cynthia) Newman, Max (Heidi) Newman, Nicole (Brad) Bybee, Spencer (Christine) Newman, Brandy (Bulmaro) Lopez, Dustin (Michelle) Newman, Collin (McKay) Newman, 31 step grandchildren and 7 step great grandchildren who loved him very much, his much loved dog, Daisy; and countless fellow gardening enthusiasts and rock hound friends he's made over the years.
Born and raised in Southeastern Idaho, Ed was the youngest son of Heber and Lola Williams of Hamer ID. He attended school in the small farming town, and it was here he met the love of his life, Arlene Barzee. The two were married shortly after graduating high school, and moved to Utah to attend college. They both graduated from Utah State University, Ed with a Master's degree in Geology and Arlene with a Bachelor's degree in Education. They moved to Rexburg, Idaho, where in the fall of 1964, Ed was hired as a professor at Ricks College. Arguably, his greatest accomplishment while working for the private college was his life-changing class, Field Expedition. Ed's passion for the out of doors didn't stop with his day job. He and Arlene purchased eight acres of rock and sagebrush on a hill east of Rexburg, and turned it into their own Garden of Eden. Soon their expertise in growing all things green turned into a business, Williams Forest Nursery. In later years, they would teach a popular gardening class every spring for Madison County.
Ed and Arlene decided to retire and build their dream home on the volcano in Menan, Idaho not long after Arlene was diagnosed with cancer in 2005.
After the passing of Arlene in 2014, Ed met and married Myrna Newman. Myrna was a great comfort to him and he said many times that without her he wouldn't have survived. Ed was a singer, a self-taught banjo player, and a story teller who greatly enjoyed recounting his tales to a new gang of children and grandchildren.
Ed was preceded in death by his parents, Wife Arlene, Brother Scott, Sister Mary, granddaughter Jenessa, two step grandchildren and one step great grandchild.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 11, 2017 at the Menan L.D.S. Stake Center (698 N. 3600 E. Menan) with Bishop Gary Olaveson Conducting. The family will visit with family, friends, and community on Friday evening from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. and prior to the service on Saturday from 9:30 – 10:45 a.m. both at the Stake Center. Burial will be in the Burton Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Brigham Young University-Idaho Campus Geology Department in Ed's name.
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