WILLIAMS, Junior G. (JR)

The White Mountain Independent, Show Low, Arizona ~ 07/13/2012 Junior G. Williams, 85, longtime resident of Show Low rejoined his deceased family members Sept. 21, 2011, in El Mirage of Parkinson’s disease. He was born June 19, 1926, on his parent’s homestead in Navajo County. JR was drafted into the U.S. Army while in high school in 1944, as his two older brothers, Ora and John, were already serving in Europe. He was assigned to General George S. Patton Jr.’s Third Army, in the European Theater and stationed in Germany until 1946. He witnessed, first hand, the horrors of man’s inhumanity towards man, forever changing this innocent farm boy, and affecting his sleep for the remainder of his life. JR retired from the U.S. Forest Service, Sitgreaves National Forest, as did his father and three brothers, after which he worked construction. He was a cattle rancher and farmer his entire life. JR is preceded in death by countless ancestors (of whom he loved and was proud), including his parents, Mr. and Mrs. I. B. Williams; five brothers: Ora, Dutch, John, James, and Marc; four sisters: Helen, Grace, Jean, and Maude, three grandchildren: Shannon, Miles, and Brett, one niece, great and great-great nephew and nieces. JR is survived by his brother, Cyrus Albert; wife, Joyce; two daughters Sue and Donna; two sons Gary and Bill; seven granddaughters; four grandsons; 16 great-grandchildren; 15 nieces, 15 nephews, and numerous great and great-great nephews and nieces. A graveside memorial service with military honors will be held at 10 a.m. July 28, 2012, after which, in the tradition of Mr. and Mrs. I.B. Williams, “we will feed the guests and neighbors,” at the I.B. Williams Homestead beginning at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, July 28. During dinner there will be a musical program as requested by JR, and open mic for friends and family to share memories. For directions, call (602) 908-3170.