Evan Farmer Williams

Evan Farmer Williams, the fourth of eight children born to John and Anna (Upshaw) Williams, was born on December 22, 1918 in Denlow, Missouri. He departed this life on Monday, July 4, 2011 at his friend’s residence in Mtn. Grove, Missouri, following an extended illness. He was 92 years, 6 months and 12 days of age.
Evan grew up and attended school in the Denlow area. He was united in marriage to Vivian Miller on November 23, 1938 in Ava, Missouri. Two daughters were born to this union.
Evan and Vivian farmed in Douglas County and owned and operated the Denlow Store for many years. They sold the store in 1955 and moved to Mtn. Grove, where Evan was employed by Brown Shoe Company and retired in 1981.
After his retirement, he took up woodworking and learned the trade of making grandfather clocks. He made twenty-one clocks that were sent to various states.
Vivian passed away on October 18, 1996, one month before their fifty-eighth Wedding Anniversary.
Evan was the caretaker of the Denlow Cemetery for many years as long as his health permitted. He enjoyed this job very much.
He also enjoyed taking vacations to New Mexico to visit his daughter and her family. He liked telling his travel adventures when he returned home.
Evan also enjoyed many happy times at the Mtn. Grove Senior Center over the years. He met Helen Mackey several years ago. They have enjoyed each other’s company since 2004. As his health started failing, Helen very lovingly took care of him.
He was a longtime member of the Little Zion Church in Denlow, where he looked forward to attending services and visiting with his friends.
Evan was a loving and caring husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, friend and neighbor. He will be truly missed by those who knew and loved him.
Besides his parents and his wife, he was preceded in death by two brothers: Herman Williams and Vercalle Williams; and by one sister: Ardith Dobbins;
He is survived by his daughters: Ruth Edwards and her husband, Jerry, of Kansas City, Missouri, and Annabelle Scott and her husband, Ramon, of Truth or Consequences, New Mexico; one grandson: John Edwards of Kansas City, Missouri; one brother: Essel Williams of the State of Oregon; three sisters: Jessie Mae Miller of Willow Springs, Missouri, Faye Swibies of Redman, Oregon, and Della Dooms of Mtn. Grove; several nieces; nephews; and other relatives and friends.

Memorial Contributions:
Denlow Cemetery Fund c/o the funeral home.