Donald Williams

OLIVE BRANCH, Ill. -- Donald O. Williams, 79, of Olive Branch died at 3:50 a.m. Saturday, June 19, 2010, at home.

He was born July 19, 1930, at Olive Branch, the son of Orean and Martha Waterman Williams.

Don served 20 years in the U.S. Army from 1951 to 1971, serving two tours in Vietnam, and upon retirement was a military policeman. He then worked as a guard at the Vienna Correctional Center and later as a security guard at the Shoemaker Building in Cairo, Ill. He attended Lake Milligan Baptist Church and was a member of Caledonia Lodge No. 47 AF&AM. He raised hogs and was an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan.

Survivors include his wife, Betty Ice Williams of Olive Branch; children, Charlie (Jamee) Cox of Olive Branch, Tammy (Terry) Emmons of Cape Girardeau, Brenda Smith of Virginia, Debra (Tommy) Branagan of Virginia, Patty (David) Tapley of Thebes, Ill., and Robbin Koen of Jackson; three sisters, Betty Williams of Thebes, Judy Tanksley of Mesquite, Texas, and Cynthia Rivet of Thebes; a brother, Mike Callis of Hecker, Ill.; 14 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Elizabeth "Betty" Cox Williams; his parents; and wife's parents James and Pearl Ice.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday at Crain Funeral Home in Tamms, Ill., where Masonic rites will be conducted at 7 p.m. by Caledonia Lodge No. 47 AF&AM.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home, with the Revs. Verlee Eaker and Earnest Brown officiating. Military honors will be conducted at the funeral home. Interment will follow in Green Lawn Memorial Gardens.

Online condolences may be left at www.crainsonline.com.