William James Williams' Obituary
William James Williams, age 79, passed away December 15, 2015, at the Laurels in Carson City, MI. Jim was born at Rennselaer, IN, the son of James Winnie and Dorothy Mae (Pancake) Williams. He was united in marriage to Hazel Graham on October 28, 1956 inHebron, IN. They have lived in the Edmore, MI area ever since their marriage.
Jim attended school at Fair Oaks, IN and began his career in farming in his teens. He worked on the Robert Sipkema Grain Farm &Sipkema Dairy Farm at Fair Oaks before coming to MI. He worked for Fredrickson Auto in Alma, General Electric in Edmore doing piece work and spent 20 years on the Ferris Christensen potato farm. In the fall of 1974 he was encouraged by local farmers to provide a lime spreading service that was needed in the Edmore and surrounding areas. Thus, in October 1974 began the J & H Lime Service of Edmore. The business grew and more employees were added. In later years semi tractors and trailers were added to haul grain, pickles and seed potatoes for the farmers in Central Michigan. Jim and his wife (along with daughter Pam in later years) continued the lime spreading part of the business until the spring of 2015 when Jim decided to slow down and had an auction. After that he continued with five semi-trucks and trailers.
Jim will be deeply missed by his wife, Hazel, of 59 years: children, Poppy (Dan) Hatinger - Negaunee, MI and Pam (Jeff) Saunders - St. Louis, MI; grandchildren, Ben (Toni) Hatinger - South Range , WI and Joshua (Melissa ) Hatinger - Mukwonago, WI, and James (Whitney) Saunders - Michigamme, MI and Jessica (Eli) Lucchesi - Elkins, WV; great-grandchildren Abbryella, Wynter, Wesley, Kamylla, Hatinger and Nolan, Tenley Hatinger and Quinn Saunders : Two brothers, Bobby Williams and Lloyd (Mary Alice) Williams; many nieces and nephews, many many friends and his church family at the McBride Church of Christ. Jim was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters.
A memorial service will take place on Monday December 21, 2015 at the Brigham Funeral Chapel in Lakeview, MI at 6:00 p.m. Visitation with Jim's family will be held on Sunday December 20, 2015 from 2 to 8 p.m. at the Lakeview Chapel.
Jim was a lover of children and young people. He supported scholarships, youth programs, activities and camps. In lieu of flowers the family asks that you consider a memorial donation to the youth camp at Rock Lake Christian Assembly, Vestaburg, MI.
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