James Williams

James Howard Williams

1943 - 2019

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Obituary of James Howard Williams

JAMES H. WILLIAMS

November 7, 1943 – May 1, 2019

 

James (Jim, Jimmy, Jimbo, Jimithy) Williams came to life on Sunday, the 7th day of November, 1943, as did one of his favorite singers, Joni Mitchell. It was not surprising that his parents, Robert and Ruth Williams named him the most popular baby name that year, for a boy, which was also in keeping with the ‘J’ tradition they set with his older sister Janet and his older brother Joe.

Clearly, Jim was the baby in every sense. With four to five years between each of them, his older siblings as well as his parents were thrilled with his arrival. He spoke often of his idyllic childhood; his dad owned and operated the local shoe repair shop and raised gladiolas, while his mom was a homemaker and loved to work in the garden. That Ames, Iowa fertile soil (he would NEVER call it dirt) ran in his blood. He loved to weed both flower beds and gardens and while it was always difficult to get him started, once he did, it was equally difficult to get him to stop.

After high school, where he was a basketball champ, he attended Iowa State University, located in Ames, his hometown. While he studied history, he excelled in athletics, particularly tennis and golf, as well as basketball. His college days were fun as he lived at the family home where his mother could continue to ‘spoil’ him, as she would one day admit, especially by such things as driving him to college in the snow!

Leaving his beloved family and city in 1967, he headed to San Antonio, Texas for US Air Force training. He was stationed in Las Vegas as a munitions officer where he remained for four years. He was released from active duty and joined the reserves prior to transferring to McChord AFB in 1973. He attended UPS Law School for two years before deciding that the legal profession was not for him. The door would soon open for his ideally suited profession, real estate.

His real estate career spanned many years beginning with Sound & Shore Realty (1975-79), Sky Realty (1979-83), and American NW Realty, which later became Windermere Real Estate, from where he retired in 2013. Based in Gig Harbor, he enjoyed the land development aspect in the early years of the city’s growth. He made many friends and thoroughly loved his life’s work. He also taught tennis in the south Puget Sound area for many years, sharing his amazing skill and love of the game with many others.

Jim loved animals, especially cats and dogs. He adopted his favorite cat, Riley, from Stroh’s Feed Store in 1991 and they were best buddies for twenty years. He was always willing to take in any stray that needed a loving home and he was always willing to spend any amount of money to provide the best care for them. His heart was huge.

Jim lived with dementia for many years and the horrible disease took his life. He resided at the Weatherly Inn his last four years. He was loved by the wonderful staff that cared for him who would often comment on how polite and grateful he was for their care. The Weatherly was a savior for Jim and his remaining family, including his two nieces (Kathy and Kelly) three nephews (Josh, Charlie and Ben), sister in law (Andie) and long term love and care taker, Sue Asher. He also leaves very close friends Kathy Barker (his real estate partner), Tom and Donna Torrens, and Mary Marlin.

We love you Jim and are so relieved that your struggles are over. Hopefully you are playing with kitties Alex, Felix, Riley, Buster, Murphy, Missy and special pooch, Maggie. We will miss your wicked sense of humor, your compas- sion and generosity, your easy going spirit and your fierce loyalty to those you cared for. You will be missed.

Arrangements by Edwards Memorial, Funerals Homes, Chapels and Crematories.
253-566-1008
 

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We are deeply sorry for your loss ~ the staff at Edwards Memorial | University Place