Douglas Williams
Douglas Dean Williams, 40, of Marion, died suddenly Tuesday, September 22, 2009, at his mother’s home in rural Marion.
He was born Jan. 3, 1969, at Marion, the son of Dean and Wanda (Thode) Williams. He grew up on the family farm, west of Marion, where he spent his childhood working with his dad, farming and helping run the family chicken operation.
The family attended Aulne United Methodist Church where he was a lifelong member. He attended Marion schools, where he played trombone in the band, excelling during high school in the jazz band. He graduated from Marion High School in 1987.
He married his childhood sweetheart, Sheila (Weber) Pontious, Dec. 6, 2000, in Miami, Okla. Doug always wanted a big family. To the marriage, he brought a son, Travis Dean, who was born in 1993, and happily accepted Sheila’s three children — Alycia Marie, Ethan Bernard, and Taylor Diann Pontious — as his own.
In 2002, they were blessed with a daughter, Tristan Lyneé. His family was his greatest pride and joy, and he treasured them above everything else in his life.
Doug was devoted to his work. He spent nearly all his adult life doing construction, putting to use many skills he learned from his dad and grandfather, Harry Thode. Doug worked hard at whatever he did.
As soon as he graduated, he worked for Beachner Construction, building bridges. He helped build both bridges north of Marion on U.S. 56. He then worked for Morris Ehrlich, running paddle scrapers. He decided to take a break from construction and went to work as a machinist, working for Hay and Forage, Wichita Aeromachine, and Pre Stress.
Doug was a skilled machinist but disliked being cooped up in a factory. With encouragement from his parents, he began his own construction business in 1994. After five years, he closed his business and began working with Rick Sardou Carpentry. In 2000, he went to work for Mackey & Sons Construction in Newton, as a foreman and worked alongside his wife, Sheila, who was also employed there.
He was proud of the huge McConnell Air Force Base fencing project. Along with Sheila and a great crew, they began the project a month late, and finished two weeks early and under budget.
He left this position in 2001, and began working for Sunflower Builders of Junction City. One of the biggest jobs he did while working for them, was to restore Marion Santa Fe Depot into Marion City Library. Since June 2003, he had worked for Brad Bachman Homes in Wichita, building high-level custom homes in the Harbor Isle Development. He took great pride in his job and provided an exceptionally high quality of work. He made numerous colleagues and friends there, all of whom placed him in highest regard and will greatly miss him.
Doug enjoyed bowling, fishing, playing Texas Hold ’Em, and cooking. He liked raising a large garden in most years when time allowed. His biggest passion was woodworking with truly gifted skills. He put those talents to use, working on the family home and took great joy in making woodcrafts for gifts.
He was preceded in death by his father, Dean Williams.
He leaves behind his wife, Sheila; five children, Alycia, 20, Travis, 16, Ethan, 15, Taylor, 10, and Tristan, 7; his mother, Wanda Williams; his brother, Jeff and wife Tami Williams all of Marion; his sister, Kay and husband Jerry Stika of Goessel; in-laws, Donna and Delmer Fink of Florence; and JoAnn Hackett of Wichita; and a host of other family and friends to mourn his loss.
Services were held at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27, 2009, at Aulne United Methodist Church.
Interment was in Marion Cemetery.
The Doug Williams Memorial Fund has been established at Emprise Bank in care of Zeiner Funeral Home, 205 Elm St, Marion KS 66861.