James Jefferies Williams
Burial Details
Obituaries
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 4D - April 8, 2012
James Jefferies Williams,
91, Redvale, died April 3, 2012,
at the Grand Junction Veterans
Affairs Medical Center.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday
at Veterans Memorial Cemetery
of Western Colorado.
Survivors include his wife,
Marcine; one son, James V.
of Rifle; two daughters, Linda
Neesham of Grand Junction
and Kay Pennay of Colorado
Springs; four grandchildren;
and six great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions to
the Ute Trail Study Club, in care
of Janet Phillips, P.O. Box 295,
Redvale 81431.
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 3D - April 8, 2012
Purple Heart recipient James Jeffries Williams passed away April
3, 2012.
Jim Williams was born October 18, 1920, at the family ranch outside
of Norwood, Colorado, to Phoebe Merriman and David Williams.
He is the last surviving of his siblings. Jim's brother, John
Williams enlisted in the Army after the attack on Pearl Harbor so
Jim, the youngest could stay home and care for the family ranch.
Jim was drafted in March 1943, and wounded in battle on Memorial
Day, May 1944. He served in the 34th Infantry Division, "fighting
Red Bulls" in North Africa, Algiers, Monte Casino and at the Battle
of Anzio Beach, Italy. Private Williams was awarded a Purple Heart
with an Oak Leaf cluster and was honorably discharged April 27,
1945.
Returning to Colorado to make his home, he met Marcine Campbell,
they were married June 9, 1946 in Redvale, where they have
made their home ever since. They had four children, Linda, James
V., and Kay who all live in Colorado and daughter, Sue Reddick
who passed away in 1989. Offering a helping hand throughout the
years made our Cousin Bobby Williams an appreciated close family
member. Jim reached out late in life to reestablish a relationship
with his daughter, Saundra K.
Jim received an appointment to Postmaster of Redvale, from which
he retired in 1986. He received his 63 year Past Master Pin from the
Masonic Lodge and was member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars
where he also held office. He took his family on a once in a lifetime
trip to Monte' Casino, Italy to attend an Army reunion with fellow
WWII veterans, visiting other sites and recanting many stories from
the past. The opportunity to visit Washington D.C. on The Honor
Flight with his son, James V. and WWII veterans became a highlight
of his later years that he spoke of often.
Marcine now resides in Grand Junction with many family members
nearby, four grandchildren, Terre, Brock, Alexa and Stephanie,
along with six great-grandchildren and extended family too numerous
to mention are all remembering their granddad with fun and big
family gatherings. Ranching, riding bareback and saddle broncos in
rodeos, hunting and saddling one of his horses to take out for a ride
made our dad a true cowboy. Happy trails.
Military Honor Service, at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery, D
Road, Grand Junction, will be held on Friday, April 13, 2012, at
10:00 a.m. Reception following at 672 30th Road, Grand Junction.
A Memorial tribute will be held Saturday, April 14, 2012 at 1:00
p.m. at the Redvale Community Church with fellowship following
that is sponsored by the Ute Trail Study Club at the Redvale Community
Center. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations
be made to the Ute Trail Study Club, PO Box 334, Redvale, CO
81431.
