WILLIAMS, Gailard A.

The Payson Roundup, Payson, Arizona, Friday, August 01, 2014 Gailard A. Williams U.S. Veteran June 23, 1925 - July 27, 2014 Gailard A. Williams was born June 23, 1925 to Gilbert and Agnes Williams in Pipestone County, Minn. He graduated from Lake Benton High School in 1943. Shortly after graduation, Gailard joined the U. S. Merchant Marine. In 1945 he traveled around the world from New York to San Francisco. He married his high school sweetheart, Joyce Eileen Johnson of Tyler, Minn. on Aug. 29, 1946 in Portland, Ore. The couple lived in Lake Benton, Minn. where they had four children, and Gailard worked as a soil and water conservation contractor. In 1965 the family moved to Sedona, Ariz. Gailard started a successful landscaping business that became Oak Creek Builder’s Supply. Gailard and Joyce retired to Lake Havasu City, Ariz. in 1990 and in 2003 moved to Star Valley outside Payson, Ariz. Just over a month after celebrating his 89th birthday, Gailard passed away peacefully Sunday, July 27, 2014 at the Payson Care Center. He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Joyce, on May 25, 2004. Gailard is survived by his companion, Peggy Wyatt; his daughter, Trudy Herlov, and son-in-law, Don Herlov of Payson, Ariz.; his sons, Terrance Williams of Sedona, Ariz., Daniel Williams of Denver, N.Y., Robert Williams of San Diego, Calif.; six granddaughters: Brittany, Samantha, Alicia, Coralee, Michelle and Megan; and five great-grandchildren: Pamela, Kailee, Kassidy, Mercedez and Quinton.