John "Jack" David Williams

Jack Williams Is Found Dead; Resident of Wyo. Nearly 50 Years

The sudden death of Jack Williams, 79, came as a shock to friends and relatives, when he was discovered dead in his bed Sunday morning by his son, Amil, with whom he made his home.

Mr. Williams and his son had been in Lusk until about midnight Saturday, when they returned to their ranch in the Kirtley vicinity, where the two lived alone. The elder man remarked upon going to bed that he was going to sleep late in the morning, but when his son arose about 6:30 he spoke to him. Amil went about the work of doing the morning chores, then returned to the house and cooked breakfast, and about 8:30 went into the bedroom to see if his father wished to eat. Unable to arouse him, closer scrutiny revealed that he was dead.

Death was attributed to natural causes by County Coroner George Earl Peet and County Health Officer Dr. W. E. Reckling.

John David Williams was born in Webster County, Iowa, December 23, 1866. He was the son of John C. and Angeline Krinkle Williams. He spent his boyhood in Iowa and attended school in that State, and it was there that he became skilled in the carpenter trade, working at this trade nearly all his adult life, as well as operating his ranch.

He was married to Miss Armintha Boyles in Audubon County, Iowa, December 31, 1897. Five children were born to them, Gladys Marie and Charles died in infancy, and Grace A. Kistler, who passed away in January, 1942. Mr. Williams was also preceded in death by his wife, who died in 1929.

In 1899 Mr. and Mrs. Williams moved to Wyoming, where for a number of years he was very active at the carpenter trade, having built many of the houses in Lusk and in Harrison, Neb.

He homesteaded near Kirtley, Wyo., in 1907, where he made his home for the remainder of his life.

Surviving him are his two sons, Leonard of Lusk and Amil of Kirtley, and ten grandchildren.

Funeral services were held at the Peet chapel on Wednesday afternoon. Rev. Ezra Duncan, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Lusk, officiated and music was furnished by Mrs. Duncan and Mrs. Emerson Bonner, accompanied by Mrs. J. P. Watson.

The songs "The Old Rugged Cross" and "This World is Not My Home" were sung.

Burial was made in the Kirtley cemetery, and the friends who conducted the remains to the last resting place were Arthur Thompson, Ray Christian, Andrew Christina, John Siemsen, Wilbur Brettell and Joe Kuhn.

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