Richard N. Williams Sr. peacefully passed away surrounded by family on April 5, 2016, at SEARHC Mt. Edgecumbe Hospital. He was 77.
Richard Williams
Cultural services will be held 5 p.m. Saturday, April 9, at the ANB Founders Hall, where a light meal will be served. Prior to the cultural service a private family viewing will be held from 2 to 3 p.m. at Prewitt’s Funeral Home.
A celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday, April 10, at the Sheet’ká Kwáan Naa Kahidi with a luncheon to follow. Guests are welcome to bring salads or desserts.
Family will attend the burial at 1:30 p.m. Monday, April 11, at Sitka Memorial Park.
Richard was born Jan. 14, 1939, in Juneau to Frank O. and Julia (Lawrence) Williams Sr. He was a Raven, and a member of the T’akdeintaan Clan, Snail House, and a child of the Chookaneidi, Wandaa Hit. His Lingit name was Kaash Taak Naa Haa.
Richard’s mother died when he was young so he and his brother and sisters were raised with their cousins Winnie and Archie Brown by their grandparents Oscar and Lizzie Williams in Hoonah.
When he was 14, Richard began fishing out of Hoonah, working as a deckhand on seiners and longliners until he worked his way up to a cook.
As an adult he cooked for the Huna Totem Lodge and at several restaurants in the Seattle area before moving to Sitka in the early 1980s. He worked at Seafood Producers Cooperative until he was in his mid-60s, and advised he must stop working full-time.
In his younger years, Richard was a sharp-shooter known for his ability to shoot a seal from a bouncing boat. He loved being on the water and enjoyed fishing.
When he returned to Sitka Richard volunteered to cook for countless holiday dinners, funerals and cultural services at the ANB Hall with his friends, including Tom Young.
Richard was an avid sports fan and enjoyed watching basketball, baseball and football, especially the Seattle Seahawks.
He was a very supportive and encouraging uncle. In recent years he loved to cheer on his great-nephew Kyle Fitzsimmons playing Sitka High School baseball and great-niece Haylee Steffes playing Mt. Edgecumbe High School volleyball and basketball.
He was proud to watch his family make their regalia and perform traditional Lingit dances, and would always share stories of his childhood. He loved holidays, family gatherings and to celebrate birthdays. He is already greatly missed by his family.
Pallbearers will be Henry E. Burton Jr., Kyle Fitzsimmons, Scott Steffes, Frank O. Williams, III, Leonty Williams, Richard L. Williams, Kyle Young and Tyler Young.
Honorary Pallbearers will be Jennie Baldwin, Gene Burton, Alice Cooper, Herb Didrickson Sr., Ernie Hillman, William Kanosh, Randy Kinney, Harvey Kitka, Joel Koenig, Archie Lee, Hopsing Lee, Jack Lee, Sago Lee, Michael Limbaugh, Sam Martin, Richard Marvin, Sr., John Nielsen, Paula Williams, Mildred Wright.
Richard was preceded in death by his parents, Frank O. and Julia Williams Sr.; siblings Alice P. Williams and Frank O. Williams Jr.; niece Cynthia Williams Kaze; nephew Anthony D. Phipps; and children Julia, Oscar and Jerry Williams.
Richard will forever be remembered and is survived by his siblings Adeline (Gene) Burton, June (Randy) Kinney, John O. Williams and Alice D. Phipps, and son Richard N. Williams Jr.
He was a beloved uncle to Richard L. Williams, Matt (Candy) Williams Jr., Ethel Williams, Janice (Michael) Limbaugh, Margaret Carlson, Ida (James) Boeckstiegel, Lisa (John) Young, Juliana (Larry) Fitzsimmons, Frank O. Williams III, Henry E. Burton Jr., Pamela (Scott) Steffes, Chris (Monica) Kinney, Grant Kinney, Alex Phipps Jr., Rodney (Amy) Phipps, and many great-nieces and great-nephews.
