Earl Williams Sr.

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Category: Obituaries

Created on Tuesday, 15 April 2014 13:42

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Services have been scheduled for Earl Williams Sr., a longtime resident.
The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Michael’s Cathedral. Interment will follow at the Russian Orthodox Cemetery.
Luncheon will follow at the Sheet’ka Kwaan Naa Kahidi community house.
Mr. Williams died peacefully in his sleep at his home April 12. He was 75.
He was born March 2, 1939, in Sitka to Cyrus and Mary Williams. He was a Raven, a member of the Kiks.adi Clan, S’e Hit, Clay House and a child of the Chookaneidi. His Tlingit name was Goonak Eesh.
He was very proud of his Tlingit Heritage. He grew up in the house where the white marble bear statue was prominently displayed in the front yard on Katlian Street. It now can be seen at the Sheet’ka Kwaan Naa Kahidi.
Earl was also a descendant of Chief Katlian. His family had a hammer of Chief Katlian’s which was donated to the Sitka Historical National Park where it is now on display.
He was one of the cold storage workers.
He attended Sitka schools before entering the U.S. Marine Corps in 1958 as an airplane mechanic. He was honorably discharged in 1962.
After his discharge, he began working for the BIA high school as a painter. He was very proud of his work, especially when he painted the MEHS gymnasium floors. After the school closed, Earl became a driver for Sitka Cab, a job that lasted for over 25 years. He had many stories, but wouldn’t tell them even when his kids asked. 
Earl met Sarah Enoch and they were married on Sept. 21, 1963. They just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with many family and friends in attendance.
Earl was an enrolled member of Tlingit & Haida, a shareholder of both Shee Atika and Sealaska, and a member of the Russian Orthodox Church.
He enjoyed hunting and fishing with Sarah and numerous friends. He liked telling many stories from all his hunting and fishing trips. He was a quiet man but you couldn’t tell by his sense of humor, which came out many times while he was with family and friends.
His greatest joy was to watch his three children and granddaughter carry on their culture with the Sitka Native Education Program and later on with the Noow Tlein Dancers. Earl couldn’t get enough of watching their performance at the 2012 Sealaska Heritage Celebration. He replayed the tape many times until he lost it, at which time his daughter had to give him hers.
Earl was a HUGE fan of the Seattle Seahawks; he was so happy when they won the Super Bowl he stated “he was happy to see it happen while he was still alive.”
He was preceded in death by his parents; his older brothers “Good Time Charlie” Charles Williams and “Governor” Cyrus Williams Jr.; sisters Flora “Boots” Morris and Anne Farquhar; and nephews Edward Farquhar, Jack Green and Phillip Campbell.
He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Sarah Williams; and his children, Karin Fitzsimons and her husband Mike of Springfield, Ore.; Alicia Williams and her boyfriend Anthony Johnson Jr.; and Earl Williams Jr., of Sitka. “Pepper” was the grand-dog of the family.
He was very proud to be the grandfather of Brianna Schulz of Sitka – he called her his pride and joy.
Also surviving are his sisters Selina Claggett of Truth or Consequences, N.M., and Ethel Campbell of Coos Bay, Ore.; numerous nieces and nephews, Helen Koenig, Thomas Farquhar, Cyrus Farquhar, Dotti Beecroft, Mike Hammer, Crystal Phoenix, Yvette Crockett, Charles Green, Bob Morris and Margie Morris; and great-nephew Charles Farquhar. Jessica Morris was his great niece, who took such great care of him, during his travels to Seattle with Sarah.
Also surviving are his nephew Phillip Campbell’s widow Dotta Sharp; Nicole Huls and Makayla Huls, whom he adopted as granddaughters; his close military friend Billy Bernhard of Hydaburg; and his best friend, Herman K. Davis Sr.
Pallbearers will be Mike Fitzsimons, Earl Williams Jr., Ben Breece, Tony Johnson Jr., Herman Davis Jr., Mike Spoon, Jake Johnson and Leonty Williams.
Honorary pallbearers will be Herman Davis Sr., Bobby Kirkman, William Perkins, John Nielsen Sr., Stan Filler, Joe Howard, Mick Dimond, Glenn Howard Sr., Buddy Widmark, Nina Hollingsworth, Issac Koenig, Cyrus Farquhar, Tom Farquhar and all the Sitka cab drivers.
A Memorial Fund for Earl Williams Sr. has been set up at Wells Fargo Bank. If you like to send cards, please send them to Sarah Williams, P.O. Box 1966 Sitka, AK 99835.

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