Mary L. Williams

East Peoria – Mary L. Williams, 92, of East Peoria, died on Sunday June 10, 2012 at 11:42 AM at Methodist Medical Center in Peoria. She was born April 3, 1920 in Alpena, Arkansas to Robert and and Mary (Roberts) Hudson. Ten days after she was born her mother died and she was raised by her grandparents, John and Fanny Roberts in Harrison, Arkansas. She married Robert W. Williams on August 22, 1940. To this union three children were born. Sadly, she was preceded in death by her daughter Margaret Lillian in 1963. She was also preceded in death by her husband Bob in 1997, and by her sisters Roberta and Barbara. Mary is survived by her children, Marianne (Larry) Stowers of Springfield and Evan (Patty) Williams of Washington, one sister Edie of Maryville, TN, her niece Shirley (Ken) Milner of Olathe, KS and many other nieces and nephews. She is also survived by eight grandchildren; Steven Stowers, Phil (Jill) Stowers, Andy Stowers, Buford (Jenna) Stowers, David (Betsy) Williams, Brian Williams, Katie Williams, John Williams, and four great-grandchildren; Rachel, Isaac, Chun Le and Cooper Stowers. Her husband Bob was a pastor and an Army Chaplain. They moved many times during his years in the Army as well as serving various pastorates in the Christian Church. She has lived in the Illinois communities of Lynnville, Jacksonville, Chicago, Roodhouse, Springfield, Washington and East Peoria. During her husband's years in the Army they served in Germany, Japan, Hawaii, and several places in the US including one by Clarksville, TN. Mary enjoyed meeting people and made many good friends with whom she kept in contact and visited over the years. She loved to read and work crossword puzzles. After the death of her daughter Margaret, she wrote a devotional booklet about grief entitled “Sorrow Speaks”. She was a member of Sunnyland Christian Church, where there will be a memorial service on Friday June 15, 2012 at 3PM with a visitation service one hour prior. Cremation has been accorded. Burial of cremains will take place at a later date at Camp Butler National Cemetery in Springfield, IL. Deiters Funeral Home and Crematory in Washington is handling arrangements.

Mary L. Williams

April 3, 1920 - June 9, 2012