Millard Williams

Millard Williams led a simple life. As a very salt of the earth kind of person, he was a hard worker even from his earliest moments. The man Millard grew into reflected this fact, as he was a stable, thorough and dependable man people were proud to know.

The mid 1930s were a harsh period in our nation’s history. These were the worst years of the Great Depression, when the economic crunch took a toll on everything from the largest factory to the smallest family. Though times were tough, hope shone on the horizon as a new president aimed to lift the country back onto the pedestal of greatness. It was into this challenging world that Willie and Sara (Osborn) Williams of Moulton, Alabama welcomed the births of their twin sons, Willard and Millard. They were the second and third youngest of their eight children. Millard’s family didn’t have much money, thanks to the Depression, but his parents worked very hard as farmers to make ends meet. Tragically, his mother died when he was only 6, leaving his father alone to raise their large family.

When Millard was 16, he and a friend moved to Paw Paw to find work. He started out farming, but eventually went into construction, which turned into a lifelong career. A few years later, Millard met a lovely young lady named Bonnie, who was their new neighbor in Paw Paw (he was 20 and she was 16). As fate would have it, the two fell in love and were happily married on June 15, 1956, in South Bend, Indiana. After a couple of years of settling into married life together, Millard and Bonnie started their own family, and were blessed with three beautiful daughters: Debbie, Lisa and Denise. Millard loved being a father and would do anything for his girls. He had some pretty witty advise for his girls growing up, like “If you’re going to play, you’re going to pay” or “It will feel better when it quits hurting.” Because he was a penny pincher, his most common reply was “How much?”

For the next 40 years, Millard and Bonnie shared many wonderful memories together, living in the Paw Paw and Mattawan area. Millard spent his life balancing hard work with being a devoted husband and father, providing the best for his family. He worked construction for many years at Miller Davis Construction and Austin Construction, and never missed a day’s work. Outside of work and family, Millard was a passionate stock car racer, racing at the Galesburg and Kalamazoo Speedways. An exceptional mechanic, Millard built all of his cars from the ground up, and they purred like a kitten when he got done. He could really play it up for the crowd too, and earned several rollover trophies during his racing career. With racing in his blood, it was only natural that Millard was a die-hard fan of NASCAR. He watched countless races on TV, perhaps getting a few pointers for his next run.

Millard’s pleasures in life were pretty simple he loved to watch TV especially NASCAR while he sat in his chair, enjoying a Pabst Blue Ribbon beer and coffee at the same time. It was even better when company stopped by and he could share a beer with them, just shooting the breeze. Millard loved poker night too! Millard retired from construction in 1990, and shortly after suffered his first heart attack. Then, in 1999, he and Bonnie decided to move to sunny Florida, but were only there a short time before moving to Alabama to be closer to family. Millard then suffered a stroke in 2000, which left him unable to talk much, and was diagnosed with cancer in August 2009.

Millard’s hard work provided him with a full and happy life. His family and friends will always remember him for his kind presence, his loyalty, and his great sense of humor. He will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him.

Millard Williams, age 75, died on Thursday, April 8, 2010, in Decatur, AL. Learn more about Millard, view his Life Story film, and share in some refreshments with his family and friends on Tuesday, April 13, from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the Life Story Funeral Home, Betzler & Thompson, 60900 M-40, Paw Paw, MI (657-3870), where services will be held on Wednesday, April 14, at 2:00 p.m. Burial will be at Maple Grove Cemetery.

Millard was preceded in death by his parents and 7 siblings. Surviving is his wife of 54 years, Bonnie Williams; 3 daughters: Debbie (Lester) Williams, Lisa (David) Whipple and Denise (Hutson) Hughes; 5 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. Please visit Millard’s personal web page at www.lifestorynet.com, where you may share a favorite memory or photo with his family and/or sign his online guest book before coming to the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to donor’s choice.