James Andrew Williams

Funeral services for James Williams will be held at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, February 20, 2013 at Gillette Memorial Chapel with Pastor Bill Morel of Family Life Church officiating. Visitation will be held from 4:00-7:00 p.m., Tuesday, February 19, 2013 at Gillette Memorial Chapel.James Andrew Williams went to sleep on the evening of February 13. On the morning of February 14, he woke in Heaven. He leaves behind him a rich legacy of love, strength, and faith which gave him the grace to walk through the many trials of life. Born on July 30, 1928 to T.R. and Anna Vada Williams, James was raised in Carlsbad, N.M. with his sister, Virginia Ann, and his double-cousin, Billy Jack Williams. He graduated from Carlsbad High School in 1946, and proceeded to Whitworth College in Spokane, W.A. There he joined the ski team, and also began to excel in chemistry. His interests led him to become a chemical analyst in the potash mining industry in N.M. for the next forty years.In the late 1940's, he met Mary Nell Gough during his summer break from college. The two fell in love, and were happily married on December 9, 1949. Over the years, they were blessed with three children: Susan Elaine married to Jim Bergauer of Los Alamos, New Mexico, James Andrew, II of Gillette, Wyoming, and Mary Anita married to Daniel Weischedel of Recluse, Wyoming. As time went on, their family grew to include six grandchildren: Heather Deck of Shertz, Texas; Simon Bergauer of Los Alamos, New Mexico; Melissa and Jennifer Williams of Lewisville, Texas; Tamaira Morel of Gillette, Wyoming and Erin Dycus of Ft. Collins, Colorado and six great-grandchildren. All of them were enriched by James's wisdom, precision, faith, hugs, and great love.Throughout his life, he regularly taught in the Sunday Schools at his churches both in New Mexico, and here at New Life Wesleyan after they moved up here in 1991. James instilled a love of fishing into his family, and he also liked to hunt. He always enjoyed the outdoors, and was a Troop Leader for The Boy Scouts of America. James's precision and attention to detail were cultivated throughout a lifetime of stamp and coin collecting. The many small hands of his children and grandchildren were distracted for hours as they turned over those bright and shiny treasures. He would patiently explain each one, for he was a man of deep passions. However, no passions were ever greater for him than those he had for his family and his faith.Memorials and condolences may be sent in James's name in care of Gillette Memorial Chapel, 210 W. 5th Street, Gillette, Wyoming 82716 or condolences via the internet at www.gillettememorialchapel.com.Funeral Home:Gillette Memorial Chapel210 West Fifth Street Gillette, WYUS 82716